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 POLAR COLONIZATION. 
 
 MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS 
 
 AND 
 
 Action of Scieijtific and Comn^epcial 
 
 ASSOCIATIONS. 
 
 
 
o 
 
 
 141G08 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 To the Honorable Senators and Members of the I'orty- 
 Fifth Congress this memoir is respectfully submitted, in 
 the hope that its contents will convince them of the wis- 
 dom of supporting the plan for establishing a temporory 
 Arctic colony which it sets forth, and in the hope thai, 
 under the direction of Divine Providence, it may prove 
 of service in promoting and furthering the attainment of 
 an object so worthy alike of national ambition and of 
 national success. 
 
 HENRY W. 110 Wl, ATE. 
 
INTKODUCTOUY. 
 
 Tlio liistory of Arctic exploration is (Mie of the most thril- 
 ling iiiti'rt'st, and its pages, whether turned hy tin- hands 
 of voutli or of tnatnror vears, enchain .dike tlie facuhics 
 of tliought and fancy with a weird fascination akin to that 
 wiiereby tlie "ancient mariner" hehl the we(hhng guest a 
 captive to his wilh From the (hiys of the galhuit Froltislior, 
 tlic first Fiiiglishman who sailed in search of tlic famous 
 northwest jiassage, (h)wn to the hitcr times of Koss and 
 I'arry, of the canonized Franklin and the unfortunate Hall, 
 tlie icy harriers of the Pole have guarded, still unsolved, their 
 mysterious riddle. The rolls of chivalry contuin no names 
 gilded hy deeds ot' greater prowess, than the history of that 
 strange ixigion has given to an admiring world. Men of 
 many diverse nations, impelled by motives as various as their 
 Tuitionalities. liave ])enetrated these gloomy fastnesses. 
 
 The love of adventure which stimulated the hardy sons of 
 Devon, was spurred to more earjiest action hy visions of 
 Cathay, but the lust for gold which sought its highway in 
 the northwest i>assage, has not alone inspired the breasts of 
 those who nuule the oft-recurring journeys over this frozen 
 road to honor. 
 
 The magnanimity of honorable governments that would 
 not leave to uidvuown fates the gallant sons sent forth to 
 con(|uer nature, and the undying love of a great lady for her 
 missing lord have contributed more than all else to emblazon 
 tlic pages of Arctic history with names whose lustre time can 
 never (lini. Nor has mankind alone been the exi)lorer of 
 these hidden regions. Ships manned by no human hands 
 have sailed the ice bound seas. Steered by the helmsman 
 Fate ui»on their unknown voyage through Boreal solitudes 
 they have yet returne<l staunch, taut, and si'aworthy ; and 
 although no human intelligence traced upon the log book 
 any record of the cruise, still they have told to practical 
 eyes truths which aided the ujiraveling of tlie primeval 
 mystery. 
 
 The history of several abandoned whaling vessels, and 
 more particularly of the Resolute, of her fifteen months' soli- 
 tary cruise, and subsefpient recovery, is too well known to 
 need further mention here. 
 
6 
 
 But the glamour of romance and tho intense.' ]on<;ing to 
 ^raimle wirli and solve the mysteries of the unknown, strong 
 tlioug'h their influence may be ui)()n the human mind, sink 
 to utter insigaiticance when compared with the nobler aims 
 which urge n>ankind toward the con([uest of the Pole* 
 Almost every department of science abounds with great 
 problems whose solution will be found only behind the ic}' 
 barriers of the North, and to a few of these the attention of 
 the reader will be briefly directed. 
 
 GEOdRAPUY. 
 
 This science will derive most substantial beneflts and ad- 
 ditions from further Polar research. To ascertain whether 
 the Polar sea contains importar.t lands or islands scattered 
 throughout it, and to settle tinally the true conflguration of 
 Greeiiland, may be noted as two of the most important 
 points to be decided. 
 
 IlYDROUHAl'IIY AND METEOROLOGY. 
 
 Already in these two great branches of science, so im- 
 portant, not only to the needs of trade and commerce, but 
 to our daily wants and existence, the United States are in 
 advance of all the nations of the earth, and in no oth'n- re- 
 gion can we look for as important discoveries as those which 
 will doubtless be made within the Polar basin. The ([ues- 
 tion of ocean streams and currents, where the Gulf stream 
 and Kurosiwo end and the Polar current commences, 
 with the plienomena attending the diurnal rise and tall of 
 the tides, the direction, changes, velocity and character of 
 winds, and also many <iuestions of temperature, can ncwhere 
 be studied with so fair a prospect of success as within this 
 wondrous area. 
 
 GEODESY. 
 
 A series of observations upon the vibrations of a i)endu- 
 lum swinging in the immediate vicinity of the Pole can 
 alone accurately deternnne the true coniis>r,ration of the 
 earth and settle definitely numy disputed points connected 
 with the laws of gravity. Upon these important subjects 
 some of the most valuable infornuition yet obtaineil has been 
 gained from the careful and thorough experiments made 
 under the direction of our (nvn National Academy of Science 
 by the 8cientiti<' members of the Polaris expedition. 
 
 ■SBPSWff 
 
MAGNKTISM, ASTRONOMY, AC. 
 
 Terrestrial magnetism and atmospliori(! electricity can be 
 studied in these regions more satisfactorily and with better 
 [trospects of important discovery than in any other portion 
 of the globe. Ln solar and stellar chemistry, nund)erle88 
 facts concerniiii; the solar corona and the zodiacal and 
 auroral lights await investigations which cannot be satisfac- 
 torily conducted, except in the vicinity of the Pole. The 
 study of the spectrum of the sun, the aurora, and the Arctic 
 twiliiiht, will yield rich and increasing treasures of knowl- 
 edge. The Arctic winter is a more pleasant season for such 
 observations than is usually supposed. The long Polar 
 night is said to l)e "more en(lural)1e and more enjoyable" 
 with its corruscatiug splendors of the aurora borealis, than 
 the same season further south, with its mist and fog. To 
 quote Dr. Kane, "the intense beauty of the Arctic firma- 
 ment can hardly be imagined; it looked close above our 
 heads, with its stars magnitied in glory, and the very plan- 
 ets twiidcling so much as to batWe the observation of our 
 astronomer." 
 
 MINBRALO(iY. 
 
 The Polar regions are rich in this department, (il^raphite 
 and other useful minerals are abundant, while cryolite, the 
 double rtuoride of sodium and aluminum, which has been 
 found so invaluable in the industrial arts of this country, is 
 not known to exist in any other part of the world, (iold 
 has also been found, and a colony remaining for several 
 seasons would probably be able to determine the extent and 
 value of the auriferous deposits. 
 
 UEOLOOY, ETHN0L0(SY, KTC. 
 
 The geology of this frigid clime is especially w<irthy of 
 close and extended study, while its flora and fauna are of 
 the greatest interest to the naturalist. The Arctic; regions 
 are the richest of the world in fossil renniins, and in the de- 
 partment of Ethnology suggests an in(piiry of great interest 
 and importance. In latitude 81" 30', Captain Hall found 
 traces of human beings, and if land should be found at the 
 Pole, within the Polar sea, traces may be discovered of that 
 race of Arctic Highlanders, anterior to the Ks(piimaux, of 
 
8 
 
 whose former existence Sir John Ross obtained such 
 indubitable proofs.* 
 
 It is impossible in a brief memoir to do more than glance, 
 in the most hurried manner, at tlie principal triumphs to be 
 won in the cause of science, in these far distant regions, 
 while the absolute poverty of any summary, so attempted, 
 can readily be imagined when it is remembered that the 
 volume of scientific instruction and suggestion, prepared 
 under the direction of the British Royal Society, for the 
 guidance of Arctic explorers, contained nearly 800 pages. 
 
 From the year 860, when Naddodr, the Norwegian, sailed 
 northwest toward the Arctic regions and discovered the 
 island of Iceland, down to the departure of Captain Allen 
 Young from England, in 1876, to communicate with the 
 depots of the yilert and the Discover)/ under Captain Nares, 
 there have been no less than two hundred vVrctic voyages of 
 which we possess authentic record. In the 9th century there 
 was one, in the tenth, one, in the eleventh, twelfth, thir- 
 teenth, and fourteenth centuries, one each. Then they com- 
 mence to increase very rapidly in numbers, for in the fif- 
 teenth century there were three, in the sixteenth, twenty- 
 two, in the seventeenth, thirty-eight, and in the eigiiteenth, 
 eleven; while from 1800 to 1850, there were thirty-seven, 
 and from 1851 to 1876, no less than sixty-nine expeditions. 
 It is only necessary here, however, to glance rapidly at five 
 of the most recent Arctic voyages. 
 
 DE haven's expedition. 
 
 This expedition, comprising the Advance of 140, and the 
 Rescue of 90 tons, was first in order of those which may be 
 considered purely American, and was fitted out by the 
 United States Government, but chiefly at the cost of Mr. 
 Henry (irrinnell, of New York City. It was organized for 
 the purpose of exploration, and also of searching for the 
 missing Sir John Franklin, being designed to co-operate 
 with several English expeditions for the same object, which 
 had started for, or were already* cruising within the Arctic 
 circle. The expedition, which sailed from New York on 
 May 24th, 1850, was commanded throughout with distin- 
 guished ability and zeal, by Lieutenant E, J. De Haven, of 
 
 ♦'rhere prevail, indeed, even now, among tlieEBquimaux, traditions of lands 
 far north of their own, inhabited by a people superior to tliem.«elve» in knowl- 
 edge and intelligence ; lands where long beardctl men fatten the musk ox, and. 
 where churches and clocks are found. 
 
 m 
 
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 9 
 
 the U. S. Na\^3', who was accompanied by Dr. Kane, the 
 celebrated Eastern and Arctic explorer, in the capacity of 
 sursi-eon and naturalist. 
 
 The i)lan of the expedition was to push forward, without 
 delay, toward Bank's Land and Melville Island, and gen- 
 erally to make the best use of every opportunity for explor- 
 incf in tliat direction. At this time there were within the 
 Eastern Artie waters no less than eleven vessels belony:ing 
 to various exploring expeditions. In the latter part of Au- 
 gust, Deliaven visited Cape Riley and Beechy Island, about 
 three miles west of the cape, just at the entrance of Well- 
 ington Channel, where traces of the Frardvlin party had 
 been found, and wintered in the vicinity of ships of the 
 other expeditions. The spring of 1851 was devoted to land 
 explorations, in whi<'h the shores of Wellington Channel, 
 the coast of Bank's Land, and the waters leading from I]ar- 
 row's Strait to Melville Island, were thoroughly explored. 
 DeHaven, with his compeers, discovered 675 miles of hither- 
 to unknown coast, and to him and his ex^)edition belongs 
 exclusively the honor of discovering (Jrinnell Land, to the 
 north and west of Smith's Sound and Kennedy Clumnel. 
 FimxUy, the expedition, which had gallantly led the way 
 wherever they could go, and whose commander earned f(^r 
 himself at the hands of the English the sol)riquet of " the 
 mad Yankee," after enduring much suffering and danger, 
 arrived in New York, the Adrance on September 30, and 
 the Mescuc on October 3, 1851, having been absent a little 
 over sixteen months, and having wintered within the Arctic 
 seas. It is worthy of notice liere that Lieutenant DeHaven 
 invariably found that the water of the J^olar seas preserved 
 beneath the ice a temperature of 28° Fahrenheit, or 4° be- 
 low the melting point of fresh water ice. 
 
 DR. Kane's expedition. 
 
 This exi)edition was another of those sent out in search of 
 Sir John Franklin. It was fitted out at the expense of tlie 
 LTnited States, Mr. (rrinnell and Mr. George Peabody ; 
 sailed from New "N'ork May 30, 1853, and followed the Smith 
 Sound route. Kane wintered in 1853-54 in Rensselaer Bay, 
 on the westein coast of Greeidan<l in latitude 78° 37' north. 
 Leaving his shi}), the Adrance, he made a boat journey to 
 Upernavik, 6° further south, and next traced Kennedy 
 Channel, the northerly prolongatioi; of Smith's Souiul, to 
 latitude 81° 22' north, and sighted the highest northerly 
 
10 
 
 land which had ])eeii seen up to that time. Hun'cs, who ac- 
 companied liim, reached a still higher latitude in dog- 
 sledges. Mend.)ers of the expedition reported an (>})on sea to 
 the north of Kennedy Chainiel with tides which ehhed and 
 flowed, and these tides must have come from the Atlantic 
 ocean, most prohably by and through the North Atlantic 
 Channel. Members of this expedition, during its stay in 
 these regions, penetrated as far as latitude 80° 35', a point 
 named by them Cape Constitution, in Washington Land. 
 On May 17, 1855, they abandoned the Aun/nee and on the 
 l»th of August, after a Journey of eighty-four days in boats 
 and sledges, attended by many narrow escapes and much 
 privation they reached tJ[>ernavik, where they were found 
 by Ca[>tain Ilartstene, commanding the Release and steamer 
 Arctic, an expedition which had been fitted out by the 
 United States to find and rescue them. Dr. Kane attained 
 most important scientific results, among which nuiy be men- 
 tioned the following: 
 
 1. The discovery of a large channel to the northwest, 
 free of ice, and leading into an open and expanding area, 
 equally free. 
 
 2. The discovery and delineation of a large tract of land, 
 forming the extension northward of the American conti- 
 nent. 
 
 3. The completion of the circuit of the straits and bay 
 heretofore known at their .outherniaost opening of Smith's 
 Sound. 
 
 The expedition finally reached New York in October, 
 1855, having spent two winters in the Polar regions. A 
 remarkable feature of this expedition was that the existence 
 of the open Polar Sea which it discovered, had been already 
 maintained by Dr. Kane, in a paper read before the Ameri- 
 can Geographical Society, October 14, 1852. Well deserved 
 honors were showered upon the lion hearted explorer. Gold 
 medals were awarded to him by Congress, by the Legisla- 
 ture of New York, and by the Royal Geographical Society 
 of London. He also received the Queen's medal given to 
 Arctic explorers between the years 1818 and 1856, and a tes- 
 timonial from the British residents of New York city. 
 
 HAYES' EXPEDITION. 
 
 Dr. Isaac I. Hayes, a firm believer in the theory of the 
 open Polar Sea, who accompanied the enterprise just referred 
 to, succeeded with the aid of private subscriptions in organ- 
 
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 11 
 
 izitig, uiid Httiiig out unotlior Arctic exploring expedition. 
 Witii a conijcaiu- of only fourteen men he left Boston July 
 6, 1800, in the schooner Uin'irl Shifcs for rroven suid Uper- 
 iiavik, in (Treen)and, arriving on the 12th of August, at the 
 latter phice, wlieru he took on l)oard three Danes, three 
 Esquimaux and a numher of dogs for sledge work. Hayes 
 entered IJatKn's Bay ahout the '20th of August, hut was so 
 delayed by ice that althougli he had designed reaching some 
 point hetween latitude 7!*° and 80°, the schooner was frozen 
 in at Port Fotdke, a point al)out latitude 78°. Several sledge 
 iouru'jys were made during the winter montlis, hut were 
 somewhat barren of results until April 3, when with several 
 sledges drawn by dogs, a lifeboat upon another sledge drawn 
 by men, and twelve of his crew, he started across Smith's 
 Sound to Grinnell Land to explore its coast line. After 
 encountering great danger and difficulty, sending l)ack nearly 
 all the party, several sledges and the lifeboat, which could 
 not l)e carried furtiier, Hayes with three men reached Cape 
 Hawks, Grinnell Land, on May the 11th. Turning north- 
 wards, they explored the coast for several days, l)ut the men 
 were exhausted, and Hayes was obliged to leave two of 
 them on the way. With Ivnorr, his remaining companion. 
 Dr. Hayes reached latitude 81° 35' on May'l8, 1861, fur- 
 ther advance being forbidden by the rotten ice and cracks. 
 Having no boat the explorer retraced his steps, and taking 
 up in detail the men lie had dropped out ev route, he reached 
 the schooner in the l)eginningof June, after a toilsome jour- 
 ney, when, finding that she was so much danuiged as to 
 render further extended exploration impossible, he returned 
 to Boston in Octol)er, 1861, fully determined to make an- 
 othei' etfort, which, however, the civil war prevented him 
 from undertaking. 
 
 CAPTAIN HALL. 
 
 This exjiedition, the last sent out trom American shores, and 
 the one, which in spite of its unfortunate conclusion, did more 
 towards the solution of the points in question ami the ad- 
 vancement of scientific knowledge than any of its predeces- 
 sors, left St. Johns, Newfoundland, July 19, 1871, sailed up 
 Smith's Sound, and reached the 80th parallel al)Out the end of 
 August. Thence it proceeded up Kennedy Channel, and pen- 
 etrated its northern prolongation, some thirteen miles wide, 
 known as Robeson's Channel. This passage was followed to 
 82° 16' north latitude, being the highest point u\) to that time 
 
12 
 
 attained by nuy sliip. From this point tlie expedition return- 
 ed to winter in Tluiiik God TIarbor, a point on Robeson Chan- 
 nel hititude 81° 38'. During the early autumn of the same 
 year, t-aptain Ilall made a sledo-e journey northwards, reach- 
 injji- latitude 82" 3', and returning from this journey was 
 taken ill and died, November 8, 1871, when Captain Budding- 
 ton, the former sailing master, succeeded to the command. 
 The Polaris left her winter quarters in August, 1872, and 
 on 0(!tol)er 15, 1872, while the vessel was fast in the ice 
 about latitude 78° 20' and leaking badly, a [)art of the crew, 
 while landing provisions, were separated from her by the 
 breaking uj> of the ice iloe, and drifted rapidly southward. 
 On April 30, 1873, they were picked up by the ship 7)'f/rrs.s, 
 in latitude 53° 35' north. The remainder of the crew who 
 were left on the Polnri'S were rescued June 23, 1873, by the 
 Scotch steamer ]{avcnscr<ti(/, about latitude 75° 38'. 
 
 CAPTAIN NAllES. 
 
 It may not be ont of place here to give a brief outline of 
 the last expedition which has returned from the Polar basin, 
 and thus bring down to the present date the records of 
 Arctic research, more especially as the route which it took 
 was that followed by Kane, Hayes and Hall. The Alert and 
 JJisrorcri/, under Captains Nares and Stephenson, sailed 
 from England in May, 1875, and left Upernavik in Green- 
 land July 22d of the same year. Passing through Smith's 
 Sound and Kennedy C'hannel, the Di^rorery wintered in 
 latitude 81° 41', but the Alert struggled on through Robe- 
 son Channel, rounded the northeast point of Grantland, and 
 found not, as was anticijiated, a continuous coast line, but a 
 V; st ice bound sea. Finding no harl)or, the ship was secured 
 inside a barrier of ice in latitude 82° 31', the most northerly 
 wintering place ever yet occupied by man. The winter 
 which followed was the severest on record. For 142 days 
 the sun was never seen, and the mercurv was frozen during 
 a period of nearly nine weeks. Upon one occasion the ther- 
 mometer showed 104° below the freezing point, and during 
 two fearful weeks the mean temperature was 91° below tlie 
 freezing point. As soon as the sun reapi»eared sledge ex- 
 ploration began. One party went east, exploring the north- 
 ern shore of Greenland, and the other explored westward 
 on the shores of Grantland. Captain Stephenson, of the 
 Dificovery, crossed liobeson ('hannel to Polaris Bay and 
 erected over the grave of Captain Hall a tablet with a suit- 
 
18 
 
 ^ 
 
 uble ins(;rii»ti()n, vvliich liad been brought out from Kinjlaiid 
 tor the purpose. The sliores of Grautliind were traced to 
 longitude 85^^ 38', while those oi" Greenland were explored 
 as far east as (west) longitude 50° 40'. Lastly, a party eoni- 
 nmnded by C-omniander Markhain pushed nortlnvard, and 
 after uidieard of ditKculties, on May 12, 185U, they planted 
 the British flag in latitude 83° 20' 20", whieh is believed to 
 be the most northern [)oint ever reached by civilized man. 
 After accomplishing these results the expedition returned 
 to Great Britain, arriving at Valencia, Ireland, October 27, 
 1870. 
 
 CAUSES OV FAILURE. 
 
 From this rapid survey of the more recent expeditions it 
 will be seen that though Dr. Hayes, with only limited means 
 at his command, and a small nundjer of men made as high 
 a latitude as 81° 35' in 1861, Captain Hall went only thirty- 
 six nautical miles beyond him; while (-aptain Nares, with 
 two vessels and over a hundred men, titted out at a cost of 
 a million of dollars, went oidy some seventy nautical miles 
 beyond ('aptain Hall's furtherest northern point. Tlie re- 
 cords of Arctic exploration attord to the careful reader many 
 details of great and exceeding interest, and none of these 
 are more instructive than those whicjh point the causes lead- 
 ing to the failure of so many expeditions planned with so 
 much prudence and foresight, so thoroughly organized and 
 so bravely led. Prominent amongst these causes may be 
 named the following: 
 
 First. The expeditions were frequently sent out in the 
 severest seasons, and at times when meteorological science, 
 now so closeh' studied, was either in its infancy or entirely 
 unknown, and could not be used to forecast the possibilities 
 of closed or open seasons. 
 
 iSeconiL Much valuable time — often the precious period 
 during which alone the way was open and the temperature 
 favorable — was lost by the explorers in making the voyage 
 to the scene of their operations, which they reached, in many 
 instances, only to lind exploi-ation impossible, and to be en- 
 closed for whole seasons in tin relentless ice, advance or 
 retreat being alike impossible. 
 
 Third. The hardships of this voyage out, with its delays, 
 too often so tried the men, and sapped their strength that 
 upon arriving in the arctic Basin they were unfitted for the 
 work of exploration. 
 
 ^gS|J*gjjgj^^2J^MgMMIg¥jj^Jjj^J^^^^^^^^^^^ig^^^^^^^?^^^S^^^ 
 
14 
 
 Fonrih. Tlu- iioijlt'ct or insufHcii'iit use of lime juice luid 
 other iUiti--se()rl)UticH. 
 
 Fifth. The lack of i)roi)er discipline, which, in expedi- 
 tions of this kind should be of the most thorough and per- 
 fect character. 
 
 Sixth. The failure to employ the Kstiuimaiix as ifuides, 
 hunters and assistants, and their invaluable dos^s for draft 
 purposes in the sleds^es. 
 
 Seventh. The impei-fect means of communication — such, 
 for instance, as signalino; or telegraphiuLC — between sepa- 
 rated members or parties of the same expedition; and, 
 
 .E<(/hth, and most important of all, a cause, fruitful of dis- 
 aster, which has sown in so nuiny undertakings of ti>e kind 
 the seeds of dissension and of utter failure, dependence on 
 their vessels. Having their ships always within reach in 
 ease of need as "cities of refuge," and having, save them, 
 no tixed habitation, rendezvous, or base of operation; even 
 with their ships at hand they were timid, unadventurous and 
 irresolute, while without them they were helpless and de- 
 spairing. 
 
 And this brings us to the plan which I had the honor to 
 present to the Forty-fourth Congress, in the i)aper herewith 
 suV)joined; a })lan In' which it is hoped to redeem the errors 
 of the past through the knowledge of the present, and the 
 achievement of the near future. The days of spas.iiodic and 
 unsupported expeditions have passed away, and a new era 
 has opened with an ettbrt to commence a direct and stead}' 
 advance towards the Pole, each forward step being used as 
 a coign of vantage from which to plan and plant its suc- 
 cessor. 
 
 THE COLONIZATION PLAN. 
 
 PRELIMINARY. 
 
 The expedition of Captain Hall in the Polaris, in 1871, and 
 of CafWtain Nares in the Alert and Discoreri/, in 1875, have 
 slunvn that by tlie use of steam it is a comparatively easy 
 matter to reach the entrance to Robeson's Channel in lati- 
 tude 81° north, and that the serious difficulties to be over- 
 come in reaching the Pole lie beyond that point. Parties 
 from the two expeditions have made fair surveys 140 miles 
 north of this, leaving only about 400 miles of unexplored re- 
 
16 
 
 ti;i()ns between that and the goal of modern geographers — 
 the rule. 
 
 When (/aptain llall reaehed the uj^per extremity of Kohe- 
 son's Channel the lookout of the Polaris rei»orted open 
 water in sight and just beyond the pack which Hurrounded 
 the veissel and prevented further progress. This open water 
 was afterwards seen from the eape at the northern opening 
 of Xewnnin's Bay, and it was the opinion of the crew of that 
 ill-fated vessel that if she had been Init the fraction of an 
 hour earlier in reaching the channel they could have steamed 
 unobstructed over a veritable "open sea" to the Pole itself. 
 We know that they did not succeed, but were forced to 
 winter almost within sight of this sea, and subseciuently, dis- 
 heartened by the loss of their gallant commander, aban- 
 doned the enterprise. 
 
 Where this oi)en water was found Captain Narcs, in 1875 
 and 1876, found solid, impenetrable ice, through which no 
 vessel could force its wa}', and over which it was e(|ually im- 
 possible for sledge parties to work to advantage. 
 
 These facts aj)i)ear to ^how that within the Arctic circle the 
 seasons var^' as markedly as in more temperate southern 
 latitudes, and that the ic}' barriers to the l*ole are sometimes 
 broken up by favoring winds and tem[>erature. To reach the 
 Pole prompt advantage must betaken of such favorable cir- 
 cumstances, and to do this with the greatest certainty and 
 with the least expenditure of time, money, and human life, 
 it is essential that the exploring party be on the ground at 
 the very time the ice gives way and opens the gateway to the 
 long sought prize. This can only be done by colonizing a 
 few hardy, resolute, and experienced men at some point 
 near the borders of the Polar Sea, and the most favorable 
 one for the purpose appears to Ije that where the JJUcucer^ 
 wintered in 1875-70. 
 
 THE COLONY. 
 
 Such a party should consist of at least fifty men, and 
 should be provided with provisions and other necessary sup- 
 plies for three years, at the end of which period they should 
 be visited, and if still unsuccessful in accomplishing the 
 object, revictualed and again left to their work. Captain 
 Hall spent eight years among the Esquimaux, and each year 
 found himself better fitted to withstand the severity of the 
 Arctic circle, and the party of which I speak would in like 
 manner become acclimated, and eventually succeed in ac- 
 
 W^lS^i^^^SS^^l^SS^^i 
 
 •J^^MiMUJt. 
 
I 
 
 10 
 
 coiiipli^thiiiij the loiii^-souj^lit ond. With a strong, su])stiin- 
 tial building, such as couhl easily 1)0 curried on sliii>l)oard, 
 the party eould he inade as conit'ortahlo and as sate from 
 atmospheric dangers as are the men ot" the signal 8ervi(;o 
 stationed on the summits of Pike's Peak and Mount Wash- 
 innjton, or the em|)l()ve8 of tlie Hudson's I'ay Company 
 stationed at Fort York, whftre a temperature of minus (JO 
 degrees is not uncommon. A good sui»ply of medicine, a 
 skillful surgeon, and such fresh provision as could he found 
 hy hunting parties would enable them to keep off scurvy, 
 and to maintain as good a sanitary condition as the iidiabi- 
 tants of (lodhaven, in Greenland, (lame was found in fair 
 ([uantities by the Pofuris party on the (4reenland coast, an<l 
 l)y those from the Ali'rf and Discover)! o\\ the maiidand to the 
 west, especially in the vicinity of the last-mniie<l vessel, 
 where tifty-four musk oxen were killed during the season, 
 with i|uantities of other and snudler game. A seam of good 
 coal was also found by the Dlscoocry's party, which would 
 render the (piestion of fuel a liglit one, and thus remove one 
 of the greatest ditficulties hitherto found by Arctic voyagers. 
 The proposed location of the principal depot or post is ujton 
 Lady Franklin Bay betw-een latitude 81" and 82°, and there 
 is no (piestion that this can be reached with a steam vessel, as 
 Captain Hall went as high as Cape Union, between latitude 
 82° and 83° with the I\%irls,i\ni[ Captain Xares still higher 
 with the AJevt. It is probable that this higher point may 
 be reached with the vessel, in which case coal and pro- 
 visions could be deposited there to form a secondary base of 
 operations for the exploring party. If this can be done, 
 the road to the Pole will be shortened by about ninety 
 miles in distance and three weeks or more in time, two very 
 important items. It should be clearly understood, that the 
 only use to be made of the vessel is the transportation of 
 the men and supplies to the location of the colony. When 
 this is done the vessel will return to the United States and 
 await further instructions. An annual visit might be made 
 to the t'olony, to carry fresh food and supplies, to keep its 
 members informed of events occurring in the outside world, 
 and bear them news and letters from anxious relatives, to 
 bring back news of [irogress made and of a private charac- 
 ter to friends; also, if necessary, to bring back invalided 
 members of the expedition, and carry out fresh colonists to 
 take their places. This annual visit, however, is not abso- 
 lutely necessary, for if the return trip is deferred until the 
 
 »ii3«--t.!.-<:'5SMa»;- 
 
|ijwrg 
 
 ii«i 
 
 mam 
 
 m 
 
 suhstiin- 
 il»lK)iii*(l, 
 I to from 
 
 service 
 t Wnsli- 
 'ompany 
 limis t!() 
 liciiu', a 
 )(.! t'ound 
 
 scurvy, 
 J inlial)i- 
 (1 ill f'iiir 
 )ast, and 
 1(1 to the 
 I vessel, 
 
 season, 
 
 of g'O0( I 
 
 h would 
 love one 
 o valuers. 
 t is upon 
 id there 
 essel , as 
 atitude 
 higher 
 int niay 
 lid pro- 
 base of 
 ! done, 
 ninety 
 wo very 
 that the 
 ition of 
 When 
 tes and 
 te made 
 :i'ep its 
 world, 
 ives, to 
 charac- 
 valided 
 nists to 
 »t abso- 
 itil the 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 :Ci 
 
 o 
 u 
 
r '^■{i.-jftr^r m m m »!ijmw^ 
 
 17 
 
 tliinl year, *il is iu'uIciIjIc tliat tla- uorU of tliu i'mIohv will 
 l»e found eompkitcil, niul it fan lie pernmncntly ni)jin(l()nod. 
 Tilt* voKsol .sliould, of course, take out a HufHcient (|iiaiitity 
 of supplies to enal)le the eolony to rcinnin lonji^er than three 
 years ii iieceHsary. It is hojicd that Conijress will anlhor- 
 izo the empioynient of detailed oflicers and men to form 
 tlie majority of the colony, as this plan will hest secnro that 
 military discipline, without which the failure of former ex- 
 peditions will undoubtedly find a new jiarallel in this. The 
 pernument colony shoidd consist of tifty solected men, 
 mustered into the service of the LTniled States, three cnui 
 nussioned otHcers, and two sur<^eons: all to hcHelecled with 
 a view to their especial fitness for the work, young, able- 
 bodied, resolute men, who can he depended upon to carry 
 out instructions to the extreme limit of hunnin enduraiu'e. 
 An astroiKuner and two or more naturalists, to be selected 
 l)v the National Acadeniv of Sciences, and to work under 
 instructions from that body, sidjject to such general super- 
 vision and dircM'tion from the head of the expedition, as is 
 custonniry at all posts in charge oj' an otllcer of the l-nited 
 States, shoidd accompany the expedition. Out; or more 
 membfi's of the regular force should be competent to make 
 meteorological observations, and to communicate by tele- 
 graph and sigmUs whenever such communication becomes 
 necessary. 
 
 ESQUIMAUX AND DOUS. 
 
 To the expeditionary corps brought fi-om the United 
 States shouhl be added a nund)er of Esiiuimaux to serve as 
 hunters, guides, &c., who can be taken over with their fami- 
 lies from Disco or Upernavik, in Greenland, and also an 
 ample number of the Esquinuuix dogs, so indispensal)le for 
 sledging, and so useful as food when their capacity for work 
 is gone. 
 
 ANTI-SCORUUTICS. 
 
 The outlit of the Polaris expedition oti'ers a safe guide in 
 this respect, and one which, if followed, will atfonl ]»roper 
 safeguards against scurvy. Lime juic<' has been used too 
 often and has proved too absolute an antidote for its virtues 
 to be called in question now. 
 
 THE COLONY 
 
 should be kept under the strictest discipline, and to this end 
 should be formally enrolled in the nnlitary service, save 
 
 *■* ' 
 
 ^%':i3£^^^isEAit),-^. 
 
18 
 
 perhaps the strictly scieiititic members. By (hsciplinc only 
 can such control be exercised as will be indispensable to the 
 successful ending of the search. 
 
 One cannot read witlunu pain the account of the Polaris^ 
 expedition, where the b(»nds of (lisci|)line, only too loose 
 before Hall's untimely death, were entirely rehixed after it. 
 The tirst in command of the new expedition shouhl be a man 
 able not only to gauge men, but to control them, and his 
 second slu.nkl be like unto him. Enthusiasm and enei-gy 
 are es[)ecially desirable, but coohiess of temper, iirmness 
 of rule, persistency of }»urpose, and a well bahmced mind, 
 fertile in resources and expedients, are indispensable to 
 SUi'cess. 
 
 The outfit of the exi»edition should include some two 
 hun(b'ed miles or more of copper wire, to connect the colony 
 at Lady Franklin Bay with the subsidiary dei)ot at ('ape 
 Union, and thence northw ard as far as practicable. Co[)per 
 wire is strong, light, flexible, and a good conductor, and can 
 be worked while lying njion the dry snow or ice without 
 support. The necessary battery nuiterial, and instruments, 
 including tele))hones, should l)e taken to eipiip the amount 
 of line, and the battery could he kept permanently at the Bay 
 tatioD, where, fuel being abundant, it could be kept from 
 freezing. A few sets of sigiud e(piipnients, such as are used in 
 the army signal service, would also i'orm an in<lisitensable part 
 of the outfit, and all of the men should be instructed in their 
 use and in the signal code. Thus provided with means of 
 communication the sledging parties could move forward with 
 conlidence, as they would be able, when necessary, to call 
 upon their comrades who renniined behind for advice or 
 assistance. Open water will, it is belie\'ed, l)e found in any 
 ordinary season before the jnirty gets as far north as 88" 20' 
 26", the turning point of Lieutenant Markham's sledge party, 
 and that boats can thence be used to the land which it is 
 still believed will be found about latitude 85°, in accord- 
 ance with Captain Hall's theory based upon the native 
 traditions. The existence of coal at the JJi.scoveri/'s winter 
 quarters settles the question of colonization and the location 
 of the cohniy as a means of Polar exploration; and the 
 Nares expedition would have been a success if it had done 
 nothing more than discover this supply of fuel. The tiiilure 
 of Captain Nares' admirably equipped exjteilition to reach the 
 Pole is in a threat measure attrihutidjle to the abnoriuallv cold 
 season and the exceptional character of the winds, which had 
 
10 
 
 resulted in the fonnation of ice ridg:cs running across the line 
 of inarch, thus niiiUing j)ros2:re8s ditHcult,sh)w,antl (hiui^erous. 
 It is reasonable to suppose from past nieteoroloirical records 
 tliat tliese unusual t'onditioiii-' will not occur ai>;ain for several 
 years. Instead of discouraging furtlier efi'ort, thi' failure 
 of Captain Nares' expedition from the causes named should 
 stimulate fresh eiuleavors, and hold out a fair prospect of 
 success. At anv rate, rhc little colony on Lady Franklin 
 Bay during their three years' residence, besides having the 
 o[)poi'tunity of sc/cvdiH/ an open season, and becoming 
 thoroughly hardened and acclimated, would have their work 
 narrowed down to a common focus — the pathway due north. 
 Tlie work of the Nares cxpeditionCleara the way for a direct 
 movement ujion the Pole. The exploi-ations westward along 
 the coast by Lieutenant Aldrich, and eastward by Lieuten- 
 ant Beaumont, obviate the necessity for similar work now 
 within the limits of their surveys. Upon landing and un- 
 loading the stores and jirovisions (Quarters should be erected, 
 and tiie vessel, returning to ihe United fStates, would leave 
 behind her a thorougldy equipped, self supporting, and s(;lf 
 reliant colony which would push, ever northward, the limits 
 of discovery. 
 
 SLElXiE .JOl'RNEYS. 
 
 Th(> attempt to draw the loaded sledges by means of mere 
 manual labor should not be made unless it should become 
 in any pariicular instance a matter of absolute necessity, as 
 it is sure to result disastrously, and seems to hnw been one 
 of the causes of failure of the Nares expedition. The ex- 
 pedition from the colony to the Pole may consist of eight 
 sledges, with six men to each sledge, the distance to be 
 traveled, some 400 miles, being divided into eigiit stages of 
 fifty miles each. At the end of the first stage one sledge 
 could be sent back. A portion of the provisions which it 
 originally carried would have been consumed, and t.l>e rest 
 would be deposited in a (-((che in the ice secure from 
 Arctic animals. At the end of the second stage the se(;ond 
 sledge would be sent back; at the close of the third stage 
 the third sledge would take up its homeward journey, and, 
 following out this plan, only a single sledge would remain. 
 The returning sledges being but lightly freighted, and 
 traveling, moreover, a route already jvioneered, several of 
 their hands cauld be retained so as to nmn the eighth sledge 
 with ten or more explorers. This last sledge with its full 
 
20 
 
 coiiiplciiR'nt would |iort'ona the most iinportaiit WDrk of all. 
 It would press forward, reacli the Pole, iiuike the necessary 
 ohservatioiis and then return. Upon its homeward Jour- 
 ney it would follow the route alrea<ly made in the forward 
 journey, and would tind provisions at eaeh successive rur/h-. 
 This portion ( f the plan would be useful in a closed season, 
 but in an oi)en one the journey would have to be made 
 either wholly in boats or partly in these and i)artly by 
 sledii'cs. 
 
 ADVANTAGES UF THE SMITU'S SOUND KOUTE. 
 
 This route is ])referable to that by S[)itzberiji;en, where the 
 ice drift is much greater and where the all imjtortant vein 
 of coal does not exist. Moreover, two recent expeditions, 
 those of Hall and Nares, have shown that the whole length 
 of the S(»und is [)racticable for steaming u[) as far as Dis- 
 ooverv Harbor, on Lady Franklin Bav, if not hevond, in any 
 ordinarily open season. But it is not doubted that during 
 its three years' sojourn the colony may experience and take 
 advantage of such a seasoi\ as will carry an expedition much 
 farther, and perhaps even the whole distance to the Pole. 
 There is a rvartn current setting stea-lily northward from the 
 J^ieiti(t Ocean through Behring's Straits, which constitutes 
 the mighty ocean river of the Kurosiwo. This current 
 must have an outlet, which is possibly found in t\w southerly 
 drill of the Atlantic side. 
 
 During the summer there are probaldv long lanes of 
 water free of ice from the u})per end of Smith's Sound, 
 and following these, against the downward iiowing cur- 
 rent, a i)athway will surely be found, i);'actical)Ie for boats, 
 duriuLf some favoring season. Such tavoring season and 
 such a practical)lo pathway can only be found by men colo- 
 nized as proposed at a point where, without the fatigue of a 
 long and perilous voyage, healtliy, vigorous, and thoroughly 
 acclimated, they will l)e ready and eager to sieze the prof- 
 fered opportunity. Failing such an opportunity, a chance 
 barely possible, the alternative of sledge journeys still re- 
 mains, and sledge journeys undertaken under better and 
 more favorable aus[)ices than any which have as yet been 
 attempted. 
 
 THE HEALTH AND PROSPECTS OF A COLONY. 
 
 The sevei-ity of the climate on I^ady Franklin Bay and in 
 the neighboring regions has l)cen much exaggerated. To 
 
 .-..'k,:T5«i.jii' 
 
21 
 
 parties under cover it is not more trying than that at the 
 sununits of Mount Washington, in New Hampshire, or of 
 Pike's Peak, in Colorado, as stnted l»y a former member of 
 one of Dr. Hayes' expeditions, wiio has since served a year 
 upon the summit of the last named mountain. The report 
 on the Polaris expedition sliows that during the summer all 
 the low lands jii d I'Kvations at Thank (jrod llarhor (oppo- 
 site Discovery Harlxir on Lady Franklin Bay) were bare of 
 snow and ice, excepting patches here and there in the shade 
 of the rocks. The soil at that period was covered with a 
 vegetation of moss interspersed with small jdantsand willows. 
 Seals were abundant in the water, as were also Jelly-tish and 
 shrimps. Captain Hall's last dispatch, dated from his en- 
 campment on the north of Newman's Bay, nearly a whole 
 degree further north th-'u the site of the proposed colony, 
 says: "AVe find this a much warmer country than we ex- 
 pected We found the mountains on either side of Kennedy 
 Chaii 1 and Robeson Strait entirely bare of snow and ice 
 with the exception of one glacier that we saw. The coun- 
 try abounds with life, and seals, game, ducks, musk cattle, 
 rabbits, wolves, foxes, bears, partridges, &c. Our sealers 
 have shot two seals in the open water while at this encamp- 
 ment."' 
 
 Again, there are several towns in Northern Asia inside 
 the Arctic circle, and a llourisliing cit}' of Russia (Archan- 
 gel) is not far from it. x\t Yakutsk, on the river Lena, the 
 ground is frozen solid all the year round, and only thaws a 
 few inches in depth during the hottest summer. The ther- 
 mometer often falls to 63'^ or 70° minus, and every winter 
 there are periods of two or three weeks during which it does 
 not rise above 60° minus upon Farenheit's scale. Yet this 
 is a town possessing a population of 4,000 hardy, prosper- 
 ous and contented human beings. 
 
 HOME SICKNESS. 
 
 The members of former expeditions, when they sailed 
 from the hospital)le sliores of Christendom, seve-rcd every 
 link that bound them to their homes and to civilization. In 
 all the frozen realm they entered there was no place of re- 
 fuge or of succor; nor could there be even a witness of their 
 fate should failure attend them in their desperate lonely strug- 
 gle with the giant forces of nature. With proud yet fore- 
 boding hearts, they passed into very shadows of death. 
 
 Nostalgia, that dreaded foe of isolated men, found in them 
 
22 
 
 an easy prey through the h)iig', siinles;-;, Arctic winter, and 
 drove some to mutiny and otheis to suicide, wliile-wlion the 
 h(»ur of deadly jieril eai:ie--the su[)renie moment of despair 
 — the stoutest of heart was appalled by the knowiedg'e that 
 succor, if sent at all, munt be guided by the merest chance, 
 and that the rude cairn which covered his last resting [ilace 
 or his tri)zen ethgy upon some drifting ice-Hoe might never 
 meet the gaze of lunnan eye. The new entei"[)rise will go 
 forth under far different auspices to seek a definite rendez- 
 vous from which every forward step will he duly chronicled; 
 and the members of the expedition, well knowing that com- 
 munication will be kept u[) for their aid, comfort and sup- 
 ply, will strive with a keener endeavor for the long coveted 
 prize. 
 
 But changing seasons with their varying temperatures 
 bring with them varying conditions of existence. There is 
 a brighter side to the picture, and Dr. Hayes gives encour- 
 aging views upon this point, urging the general cheerfulness 
 of Arctic crews, which is such a great stimulant to health 
 and to success. Speaking of his expedition in 1861, he says 
 that the crew were always, and had been, in perfect health; 
 that he was his own ship's doctor, and a doetor without a 
 patient, and that, "believing in Democritus rather than Iler- 
 aclitus, they had laughed the scurvy and all other sources of 
 ill health to shame." Nor is the (langer of Arctic explora- 
 tion so great as it, at first thought, ai^pears to be. A distiu- 
 guished naval officer who has served in those regions states 
 that, "of all the seas visited by men-of-war the Arctic have 
 proved the most healthy;" and Mr. Posthumus states, fur- 
 ther, that, since 1841, England and America have sent out 
 thirty-two expeditions, the total lunnber of deaths from 
 which has been only 38 men, or 1.7 per cent., a percentage 
 which would appear much more favorable if the expeditions 
 of the Germans, Swedes and Norwegians were included. 
 
 FACTS FROM FORMER EXPEDITIONS, AND VIEWS OP SCIENTISTS 
 AND EXPLORERS, WHICH SHOW THE PLAN TO BE A FEASIBLE 
 ONE. 
 
 The expedition of Captain Nares, while a failure in certain 
 respects, has done a vast service for future explorers in 
 clearly defining the difficulties to be met and overcome. 
 
 Captain Nares, who certainly does not underrate the diffi- 
 culties, states that Lady Franklin Bay, latitude 81° 45', can 
 
,5H 
 
 23 
 
 l)rol)al)ly be reached every year if the attempt is made in the 
 riii'lit season. 
 
 Tliei." it is proposed that tlie colony sliall l)o cstablislied 
 and left i'ov three years. Its hi^h hititude, the facilities 
 tor reaching it, and the seam of coal found by the Dls- 
 cucei'jj, render it, undoubtedly, the l)est wintering place in 
 Robeson's C'liannel. The party having three years to re- 
 main, and no means of retreat open, has every inducement 
 to devote its time and energy to the accomplishment of its 
 purpose. From Cape Joseph Henry to the Pole is about 430 
 nnles, which in a tiivorable season could be passed over in 
 ninety <lays, going and returning. 
 
 In I800 Captain McClintock made a sledge trip of 1,200 
 miles in 100 days, and Lieuteiumt Mecham one of over 1,000 
 in ninety-tliree (Lays. In 1821 a trip of 800 miles was made 
 by Wrangell in thirty-six days. The character of the ice 
 passed over by him accords, in his description, with that 
 found by Commander Markham. It is true that Com- 
 mander Markham's party only averaged one and a fourth 
 miles daily, l)ut several causes operated against more i-apid 
 [U'ogress. 
 
 Fir.'<t. The want of dogs. The failure to take them seems 
 a great error, for when their capacity for work is gone they 
 can be used for food. 
 
 >Secoii(L Tite pack ice was exceedingly rough, and the 
 drifted snow lay in such directions as to seriously impede 
 their progress. The snow lay in its particular direction 
 from a continued west wind, which does not prevail every 
 year. 
 
 The evidence of Arctic travelers all shows that the sur- 
 tace of the ice materially changes from year to year, being 
 some years quite smooth. The statements of Lieutenant 
 Payer, the commander of the Austro-IIungarian expedition, 
 1872-74, are especially important in this respect, he giving 
 an account of the change from smooth, regular fields of ice 
 to rough, huge, disjointed packs. 
 
 Thini. The party leaving land in Robeson's Channel [)re- 
 sumaldy experienced some drift south until they had cleared 
 the 83d parallel, when the tendency is divided between 
 drifting east or south. The tide and current observations 
 in Rol)eson's Channel showed continued strong southerly 
 currents. The Oijterience of Parry, who traveled weeks 
 ou pack ice before he discovered the general movement, 
 shows how imperceptible the drift is. The statement that 
 
24 
 
 Comniaiuloi- Markliam's party traveled 276 miles to go 
 seventy-three miles from the ship ami Init 245 to return 
 corrohorates this opiiiion, '^Phe party was thirtv-nine (la\s 
 u;oing, and, althoiiijh sick, hut thirty-three days returning. 
 Direetly north of Cape Josepli Henry the drift must l)eeome 
 feehler as a party goes north, for Rohesou's ('haimel heing 
 too snuill to relieve the Polar hasin of all its iee, thi; greater 
 part of it drifts eastward, so as to eseape l)y the east coast 
 of Greenland, Any drift ajtart from the locality near the 
 mouth of Ruheson's Channel would hardly increase one's 
 distance from the I*ole. 
 
 Fourth. The party was poorly provided with lime juice or 
 other anti-scorhutics, and incipient scurvy impaired the 
 strength of the [»arty shortly after starting. 
 
 It is exceeding]}' probable that Commander Markliam's 
 party, when compelled by scurvy to turn back, was very 
 near to land. The water had, we are told, shallowed to 
 seventy fathoms. 
 
 Dr. Petermann, who probaldy has examined with the 
 closest attention the rceonls of all Polar expeditions, is 
 firmly of the opinion that land will be found directly north 
 of Cape Joseph Henry, in about latitude 87°. That land 
 was not seen hy Markliam's party in no wise militates 
 against this theory, as the nature of the ice was such as to- 
 preclude a view of even eight or ten miles, and low land, 
 such as usually prevails in the Arctic regions, can for the 
 greater part of the year only be distinguished from pack ice- 
 by being traveled over. Should land l)e found within one 
 hundred Jind tifty miles of Cape Josepli Henry a sub-station 
 could be stocked with provisions, and success thus rendered 
 a certainty. Should the sea open, the crossing of it would 
 be a matter of only a few days That it does open for a 
 considerable distance Captain Nares admits in his report a8 
 definitely settled. The undoubted evidence of Kane, Tfayes, 
 Meyer, and I*ayer, is conclusive on this point. The latter,, 
 at Cape Fligely, latitude 82° 5', in 1874, found a sea open as 
 far as eye could reach. An English writer commenting on 
 this account ingenuously remarks that Payer was too scien- 
 tific, too cool, and possessed of too good judgment to term 
 it an open sea, but called it a "polynia," or water hole. It 
 matters little what it is named so long «8 it ft,fibrds a safe, 
 open road for a considerable distance toward the Pole. Dr 
 Petermann, the great geographer, believes such to be the 
 case, and does not doubt that had Captain Nares remained 
 another year he would have reached the Pole. 
 
25 
 
 Ferrel, tlie great niatlionmtical pliysicist, states tliat the 
 pliysic'ul condition ot" the globe t'orljiiln onr believing in a 
 solid frozen sea, but that the ocean currents main rain an 
 open sea of greater or less extent. This opinion is Itorne 
 out by the tidal and current ol>servatioii nuide in Sniitli's 
 Sound and Robeson's Cliaimel and by the authorities (juoted 
 above, and also by the fact that, in June, 1872, the Polaris 
 found open water to nearly 83°, while Payer, in the Tegett- 
 hoj', was fast in the ice at 76°, near Nova Zenibja, and, 
 lastly, in 1837, the 'Jrue Lore, of Hull, England, sailed north 
 of Nova Zenibla to latitude 82° 30', and saw an open sea as 
 far as eye could reach, 
 
 A SUMMARY. 
 
 To sum up, then, in brief: It is proposed to ascend a 
 well known and practicable cltannel to an equally well 
 known point where exploring parties have previously win- 
 tered, and there to form a colony. From the post so formed 
 no time will be spent in needless quests along the shore 
 either east or west, as surveys there have already been com- 
 pleted ; but starting afresh from the closing point of former 
 expeditions, and profiting alike by their discoveries, and 
 mishaps, it is proposed to await the favorable opportunity 
 born of the various seasons, and follow it up to an assured 
 success. 
 
 CONGRESSIONAL ACTION. 
 
 The first formal action taken in Cont ress with a view to 
 the adoption of the plan- above sketchea, was the introduc- 
 tion of the following bill, which was oiFered in the House 
 of Kepresentatives on Januar3' 8, 1877, by Hon. Morton C. 
 Hunter, of Indiana : 
 
 A bill to authorize and equip an expedition to the Arctic 
 seas. 
 
 " Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Represcntatires of 
 the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the 
 President of the United States be authorized to organize 
 and send out one or more expeditions toward the north pole, 
 and to establish a temporary colony, for purposes of explor- 
 ation, at some point north of the eighty-first degree of north 
 latitude, on or near the shore of Lady Franklin Ba}' ; to 
 detail such officers or other persons of the public service to 
 take part in the same as nuiy l)e necessary, and to use any 
 public vessel that may be suitable for the purpose ; the 
 
26 
 
 scientific ()i)criitions of tlie oxpedilion to be prosecuted in 
 iiccordnnee vvitii tlie advice of the Xiitioiinl Acuideniy of 
 Science; und tluit tlie sum of fifty thou.siuid df)llars, or sucli 
 [•art thereof as may be necessary, be liereby ai»pro[triat('d out 
 of any moneys in the Treasury not otiu'rwise appropriated, 
 to be exjtended under tlie direction of the l*resident : /Vo- 
 I'idcd, that no part of the sum so ainirojiriated shall be car- 
 ried to the surplus fund or covered into the Treasury until 
 the purpose of the ap]»i'opriation shall Iiave been completed, 
 but may l)e api)lied to e.\[)enses of said exi)e(lition incurred 
 during-any subse(|uent year that said expedition may be en- 
 gaii'ed i!i its duties." 
 
 After a second reading; the bill was referred to the Com- 
 niittee on Naval Affairs and ordered to be [irinted. On 
 February 9, 1877, it was introduced in the Senate by lion. 
 Henry L. Dawes, of Massajiliusetts, read twice and referred 
 to the (vommitte on Naval Affairs. On P'ebruary 22, of the 
 satue year, it was reported favorably from the Flouse Com- 
 mittee on Naval Affairs by ITon, Benjamin A. Willis, and 
 recommitted. No further action was taken on tin; bill by 
 the •44th Congress, but soon after the meeting of the 45th 
 Congress it was again introduced in both houses by the same 
 members and in each referred to the Naval Committee. On 
 the 22d of January, 1S78, Mr. Willis, on behalf of the Naval 
 Committee of the House, submitted the following favorable 
 report : 
 
 [To accompany bill H. 1{. 447.] 
 
 I'he Committee on JSacal Affairs to whom was referred the hill 
 [IT. R. 447) to authorize aiid e(/>o'p an expedition to the Arctic 
 seas, sahmit th£ following as their report: 
 
 "That th ' object of the bill, 'to authorize the President to 
 fit out an expedition to the north pole, and to estaldish a tem- 
 porary colony for purposes of exploration,' is so interesting 
 and important in its character that they have, while not ne- 
 glecting to gravely consider it with reference to its results 
 both to science and commerce, availed themselves of all in- 
 formation accessible, and called in recpiisition the testimony 
 a':d errp'.'n^^iioe of men pre-eminent in scientific ex})erience 
 and learning, v/'iose communications are hereto appended 
 t>nd made a pait of this rejjort. 
 
 "The first i!iC[uiry pursued was whether, within the pur- 
 view of the Constitution or otherwise, to tit out an exploration 
 such as the bill proposes was an appropriate, legitimate func- 
 
27 
 
 ■ 
 
 tion of tlie CTdvonniitMit, for tlie fxcrcisc of wiricli taxes 
 could 1)0 pro[ierly It'vied uiioii the iicople; und, if ho, wliether 
 tlif nation would <;et value received for the expenditure in- 
 curred aiul the perils to which its citizens would be exposed. 
 
 "Tn reachiiiij a delerniination, the fact has not been vou- 
 sidercd that lliere are numerous precedents in our history 
 precisely covering the present case, to wit: the joint resolu- 
 tion authorizing the acceptance of Mr. (irinnell's vessels, 
 approved May 'J,, 1850; the resolution rcspecring the Xane 
 expedition, approved February 8,1855; the Hall {l^n/an's) 
 expedition, (see legislative, executive, und judicial bill, ap- 
 proved duly 12, 1870; the Wilkes exploring expedition, ap- 
 proved May 14, 1830, (see naval appropriation bill of that 
 year.) . 
 
 " The action of the Government in the foregoing instances 
 indicates tlie views of previous Oongreases respecting such 
 a measure, as all such expeditions have been conducted 
 under the auspices of the National Government. Nor has 
 any importance been attached to the action of other govern- 
 ments, who not only heretofore have inaugurated such en- 
 terprises, but are contemplating the inauguration of others 
 on a magnificent scale. 
 
 " We have ascertained, to our satisfaction, that the results 
 yielded by prior explorations in the Polar seas, have incal- 
 culably l)enelited the whole world; that the knowledge ac- 
 quired by experiment and discovery in that region can be 
 obtained in no otlier way and in no other section of the 
 globe; that such knowledge is an important factor in the 
 regulation of commerce, which is absolutely dependent, so 
 far as decreasing the perils of the deep and enlarging the 
 boundaries of navigation are concerned, upon the knowl- 
 edge of physical laws. 
 
 " The Constitution gives Congress power, iji section 8 of 
 article 1, ' To regulate commerce with foreign nations.' 
 
 "And also in the siime section and article, ' To make all 
 laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into 
 execution the foregoing powers.' 
 
 "So ihe question as to the power <>f the Government is 
 without the domain of doubt or discussion. 
 
 " The (iovernment has the constitutional power. Is it pro- 
 per to exercise it? 
 
 " AVhatcver benefits are harvested favor no special interest 
 or class. The added knowledge ol)tained is the i>ro[)erty of 
 mankind. 
 
28 
 
 "flivi' a subsidy, you ciir'u-li a coi'iKiriitiou by oxtortinu; 
 from the body-politii'. Impose n duty for the juirpoHO of 
 protecting a pnrtic-ular iH(bistry, yon enricli a few while you 
 impovcrisli tbo many. Ivxplort' tlic remote oonicrs of the 
 eai'tb. you awaken in(|uii'y, add to the stock of intbrmation, 
 and contribute essontiallv to man's masterv over tlie 
 elements. 
 
 "None among those wlio believe that money is well expend- 
 ed to increase' knowledge, to improve the chances of life, to 
 enlarge the commerce of our nation, and who appreciate the 
 notable results already achieved in this special field of ad- 
 venture antl study, will belittle or sneer at the enterjirise 
 proposed in this bill. Home declare, by way of deprecation, 
 that failure and disaster have been the reward of the (hiunt- 
 less explorer. In a certain measure, true. But the ends 
 aimed at are worthy of sacrifice. Hall and Franklin died 
 just as gloriously, just as serviceably, just as heroically, as 
 Warren at Bunker Hill or Sedgwick at the Wilderness. 
 
 " Valuable exjicrience and information have been obtained 
 within past years which are now at the service of any new 
 explorer, and new plans based on such exi)erience and in- 
 formation have been examined bv your committee, which 
 point out the causes that have hitherto contributed to disaster 
 anil partial failure. 
 
 "This plan is known as ' [)olar colonization,' and has re- 
 ceived hearty indorsement from such distinguished ex[ierts, 
 scientists, students, and explorers as Prof ffoseph Henry, 
 president of the National Academy of Scien(;es; Professor 
 Loomis, of Yale College ; President Potter, of Union College ; 
 Admiral Porter; Rear-Admiral Davis, superintendent of 
 the National Observatory; lion. Charles P. Daly, president 
 of the American Geographical Society ; Dr. Isaac I. Hayes, 
 the explorer, and others, while it is heartily approved also b}' 
 the honorable Secretary of the Navy; and your committee are 
 inclined to commend it to the favor of Congress, more 
 especially if its execution l)e intrusted, as the bill provides, 
 to the President, under thedirection of the National Academy 
 of Sciences. 
 
 "The entrance to Robeson's Channel, 81° N., can be readily 
 reached by steam vessels. Surveys by the Polaris in 1871, 
 and the Alert and Uiscorcr// in 1875, liave been made to a 
 point within four hundred miles of the Pole. 
 
 "As the Polaris was reaching the northern extremity of 
 Robeson's Channel, there appeared what was seemingly, and 
 
20 
 
 wlmt those Iti-st <(iiiililit'(l to judui' hi^lifvod to lie, iiii open 
 jtolur !sea. Tliis sea could liavo heoii rouolied lind tlio vohhuI 
 arrived at hiu-Ii point (,'von an lioiir hi't'orr, and t\\v dream of 
 explorer.s would iiave lieeii a ri-ality; but the adventurousi 
 party vvero forced back, and wintered but a slKjrt illslancc* 
 from the unexplored waters. 
 
 "C^aptain Xares, in lH7')-'7(), eiuiountered above this chan- 
 nel an unbroken Held of ice, too solid to penetrate with ves- 
 sels, too uneven to be traversed by sledge [tarties. 
 
 "So, it will be observed, seasons there are no less variable 
 than our own. Sometimes the miu'bty liehls of ice are 
 broken uii and carried awav bv favoriny; tides : sometimes 
 the ice presents un iinitassable barrier. 
 
 •'To succeed under sueh plans as have formerly Ix^en fol- 
 lowed would be simply l)ecause chance supported them. To 
 make success assured, the men and the vessels must be nigh 
 tlie channel, ready for the fortunate hour, and prepared to 
 take |»rompt advantage. To obviate the (lilHeuJly and nieet 
 the exigency, polar colonization is declared the ap|)ropriate 
 mode, and is, therefore, urged by the distinguished gentle- 
 men we liave named. 
 
 "This ])lan re((uires that the colonization |»arty should num- 
 ber at least fil'ty hardy, resolute men, enlisted in the United 
 States for sueh service, provided with supplies and })ro- 
 visions for at least three years; that ;i strong, substantial 
 Viuilding should be carried on shipboard; that the principal 
 dei)ot should be in Lady Franklin Bay, between 81° and 
 82°, or, if [lossible, as high as Cajte Union, between latitude 
 82° and 88°; the United States vessels to be used oidy for 
 transporting men and sui)plies to the location of the cohmy, 
 the vessel then to return to the United States, and afterward 
 to make annual visits with fresh supplies, and to keep the 
 colony iti communication with the outer world ; military 
 discipline to be enforced; three commissioned otHcers and 
 two surgeons to be selected, with a view to their peculiar 
 fitness ; an astronomer and two or more naturalists to be 
 selected by the National Academy of Sciences ; and that one 
 or more members of the regular force should be competent 
 to nuUve meteorological observations, and to communicate 
 by telegraph and signals, when necessary. 
 
 " Such are the main features of tiie plan, which also pro- 
 vides that all due precaution shall be had to atford safeguards 
 against scurvy, against the ill-eltects of cold, and also to pro- 
 tect the colony from hunger. 
 
80 
 
 •*Iii the vitiiiitv ()(' till' point whiTi' tlio ctiloii^ is to locati'* 
 coal !>l>ouii(ls, ii'aiiH' is pli'iitilnl, I'lsMuiiiuiiix iiu'ii can lie liml 
 to ri'-L'iifoi'cr and guide tlic cxpt'ditioiiary oorjis, and Ksf|ni- 
 niaux doys to draw the slt'do-cs. Tlu' nicii Itcconie ac.'liniatfd 
 aftii' n low yi'ai's, and ('aptaiii Hall, who was oiiiht years 
 among tiie Ks(|iiinianx, testiliis that each year ended found 
 him better fitted to I'udure the severity of the Arctic Circle. 
 
 "Other nations are -it this moment hurryinii- t'orward ex- 
 ploring expeditions to be prosecuted under this plan. 
 
 "N^oble men in our own countr}' are eager to etdist in the 
 enterpiisi". 
 
 " Intelligent and liberal capitalists are ready to give of theii* 
 means to forward it. 
 
 "There has never l)efore been an opi)ortunity atlorded so 
 promising in results as the one which now presents itself. 
 
 "To make such I'xplorations luitirely successful, it is es- 
 sential that simultaneous observations bo bad at diiterent 
 points within the Arctic Circle, and for continuous [teriods 
 of time. 
 
 " Knglaud, during the present year, will lit out two vessels, 
 under tlie explorer Nares, on a polar exi)edition via the east 
 coast of (ireeidand. 
 
 "Sweden, in 1S7S, under the auspices of Professor Nor- 
 deusl<j(')ld, will explore the polar regions ria Norway across 
 to by way of Behring's Strait. 
 
 "Holland has di'termined upon anotluM". 
 
 "Germany, under the dir(>ction of the Arctic Exploraticui 
 Society, has an (^bi ex[»edition, commanded by Ca[)tain Wig- 
 gins, now on duty. 
 
 "Russia, during the coming spring will push forward an 
 ethnological expedition, under the llelsingsfors professor, 
 to the Vogels and Ostyacs of the Obi and Irtysh, 
 
 " And eminent explorers as well as scientific societies of all 
 civilized countrii's are busying tliemselves in an endeavcu" to 
 establish stations at different points in the Arctic regions 
 with a view of systematic synchronous observations, which 
 are absoluteh' essential, with a view to progress in scientific 
 discoveries. 
 
 " There is scarcely a natural science but would be enlarged 
 and utilized by proper observations in the polar seas. Nat- 
 ural forces there are subject to extreme conditions, and, 
 conse([Uently, produce i)henomena iu)t seen elsewhere, and 
 which serve to unveil the character of the forces them- 
 selves. 
 
 '„':A',^ifiiXi>&:ai>^'itifi^ >> 
 
 , j.^ii'ia'af^iidLj^^^^^iiiiatmu- 
 
 -^^w^^iiJ-Jv 
 
81 
 
 "Tfrrestriul iiiagiu'tlsin, hitherto (ItMMiU'd a Hcieiico ot'coiu- 
 parativc imiiiiporlanoo, is now (lei'imnl the most i!()iiHt'(|Ut'ii- 
 tial iM'iiMch of |)h_VHics: it in coiitroIhMl hy cosinical, atiiios- 
 })in'rit'ai, and terrestrial action, siinl in the oeoiuMuy of nature 
 exorcineK a reeiproeal i-onlrol. 
 
 '* Ivi'liahle ohrtervationB show tiie existence of t^alvanic enr- 
 reiits iiiiil tiic rehilionsiiip between niaii;netie distni'hances 
 and noi'thi-rn liu'hts and eartii<iual<es, while it is well Unnwn 
 that inaijnetism is in in8eparal)k' connection with ijalvanisni 
 and electricity. In the extreint' iw)rth, the needle is rarely 
 stationary. Tiiere, to»), the wrathful storms ra<;'e as nowhere 
 else, ^nvh are the reasons whv, if this intensely intereslinjr 
 science is to grow, observations must he had in that remote 
 arch i pel aijo of ice. 
 
 "iSi'arcely less intereslinn-, and in* less iinj)ortant to the 
 world, than terrestrial magnetism is a knowledge of tlie at- 
 mosjdn re antl its ])henomena, especially their relation to 
 heal and nioistui-e, wliich is coni|trcliended in incteor(dogy. 
 In the far north, and there oidy, can be ascertained the eflect 
 of that immense aggregation of ice; how heat is engendered 
 and distributed; now dry and humid currents are created 
 and put in motion to commingle and combat each other ; 
 to what extent clinuiti' is affected in this wise; and how 
 hurricanes, wdiich visit mankind with wrathful destruction, 
 originate. Is it necessary to exhibit, by any process of 
 reast)ning, the utility of such knowledge, the advantages 
 Nvhich would ai'cumulate to science and to eommeree':' 
 
 " The flattening of the earth at the Pole, and the extraordin- 
 ary refractions thei'e, would yield such opportunities for in- 
 vcstigatittn as would enable us to measure the earth with 
 greater accuracy, to correct lines of latitude and longitude, 
 aiul also greatly facilitate the study of astronomy. 
 
 "Natural history and botany would be vastly enriched, as 
 is attested by the existence of rare flora and fauna. 
 
 "Geology has found there the groundwork of new tlieories 
 and the explanation of many old ones. In Siberia are found 
 animals ol' anterior worlds, while in Nova Zendda, Splrrdter- 
 gen, and Greenland are fossils so abundant and rare that 
 the paleontologist exults in his enlarged sphere. 
 
 "Wonderful already are the discoveries nuide in each field 
 of inquiry noted; but we are yet in the vestibule. The 
 region of the unknowable is just beyond; we are invited 
 thither. We know enough to realize the wealth which 
 awaits us. 
 
*''**? 
 
 
 
 32 
 
 " llitliorto ()l».siTv:iti()n.s have hvvu limited and iin|icTi'tH't, 
 the most important ot'thoni wholly noglcctod ; nccunito data 
 as to all of the sciences named are wanting. 
 
 "(leographic diseovei\v has hitheHo Iteen the objective 
 point. While this is i)raisow<)rthy, while it achls a most 
 important chaj>ter to the hook of knowledge, it rthonld not be 
 tlie primary object to wliich all otliers are subordinated. 
 
 "An absolute change of opiM'ations must be had. This 
 eiiange will be eifecti'd by the passage of tiie bill II. R. 4v}.'>9. 
 It meets the exact need. It provides for a long stay, which 
 will give ample oppoi'tunity for observations and the con- 
 duct of soicntiticim|uiry under the most favoring conditions. 
 It provides that an intelligent system shall he pursued, under 
 the direction of tlie National At'ademy of Sciences. 
 
 "Ordinarily, the expeditions liavt> been so conducted as to 
 actually [»reclude st*iei.:ili(,' discovery — ail aj)pliances left at 
 liome, and almost continuous locomotion. 
 
 "Other nations are a(h)pting the same methods, and while 
 American scientists are taking obsi'rvations in the vii-inity 
 of K()!)v.-on's Strait, like observations will he taken in l>eh- 
 ring's tStraii, on the east coast of Greetdand, in the vicinity 
 of Spit/.liergen, and at other points, simnltaneonsly covering 
 the whole lield — belting the whole arctic woi'ld — for .-I'V- 
 eral consecutivi' years. 
 
 "Otliei" nations are alri-ady there or getting in readiness to 
 be there. The way through Smith's Sound, where \)v Haven, 
 Kane, Hall, and Hayes, by their heroic researches, have 
 given immortal glory to America, seems to be the iittesttield 
 for Americans in this race for conquest and discovery. It 
 is familiar, and other tields are already chosen by other 
 i'X)Vcrnments. 
 
 "Dismiss tiie unsettled, vexed ([uestiou, which is the most 
 direct and practiitable route to die Pole? Conditions vary. 
 One yi'ar one is preferable, another, another; all are e([ually 
 rich in scit'ntitic treasures, and will yield to searchers after 
 knowledge an etpial liarvest, though the weigJit of testimony, 
 even foi- geograplfu-al (hscovery, is in tavor of the Ameri- 
 can route, as the exhibits appen(U'd indicate. 
 
 "The plan which tliis ])ill conitemplatcs hapi)ily blends 
 geograpliical and scientific discovery; it will facilitate both, 
 and residt in both. 
 
 "The importance of the fitting out of this t'xpedition at 
 tliis particular time, witli a view of (!o-operation with others, 
 should not be out of miiul, foi- meteorology depends upon 
 
crtV'C't, 
 :e (livta 
 
 joctive 
 
 I most 
 
 not be 
 
 ea. 
 
 Thia 
 I. 4889. 
 , wliicli 
 110 con- 
 ditions. 
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 lhI as to 
 ^ left at 
 
 1(1 while 
 vioinitv 
 in 1 Mi- 
 vicinity 
 •overing 
 ■!br .'CV- 
 
 lini'ss to 
 " Huvcn, 
 08, have 
 testtiold 
 K-evy. It 
 by other 
 
 the most 
 ons vary, 
 e eiiually 
 lorB after 
 
 stinvony, 
 e Aniori- 
 
 ly blonds 
 late both, 
 
 odilion at 
 ih others, 
 uds njioii 
 
 I 
 
 
 a 
 
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 >-< < 
 
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 G 
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 CK 
 
 w 
 
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 O 
 
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 ^ o 
 
 w 
 
 H 
 
 t-H 
 
 •X. 
 
 ^mmsiimwmi.. 
 
83 
 
 comparison resulting from simultaneous observations. The 
 laws of storms and the theories of winds depend iqion such 
 comparison. In no other mode <.'an conclusive results be 
 attained. 
 
 "If we makeany pretense as friends of science, we must pur- 
 sue the only methods whereby develojjment can be achi(n'ed. 
 Those methods have been pointed out. But supposins^ we 
 should disregard the impulse of honor and glory; supposing 
 we were controlled alone by the instinct ol a supreme self- 
 ishness, which considers nothing but the questions, will it 
 pay? will it help commerce? will it economize human life 
 and projicrty? there would still be sufficient reasons left to 
 justify this undertaking, 
 
 "We can support this statement suiHeiently by accepting 
 the testimony of Prof Elias Loomis, of Yale College, who 
 says, in his admirable letter, hereto ai)pended: 
 
 "'The vast extension of the commerce of the world in re- 
 cent times, and its increased security, are due in no small 
 degree to more accurate information respecting the physics of 
 the globe, including such sul)jects as the mean direction and 
 force of the prevalent winds; the laws of storms; the use of 
 the barometer in giving warning of approaching violent 
 winds; the surest mode of escai)ing the violence of a storm 
 when overtaken by a gale; the most advantageous route 
 from one part to another; the direction and velocity of the 
 current in every oceaii; the variation of the magnetic needle 
 in all latitudes, and its changes from year to year; together 
 v/ith many other problems; and most of these investigations 
 have been greatly facilitated by observations which have 
 been made within the arctic regions. I do not regard it as 
 any exaggeration to claim that the benefits which have re- 
 sulted, both directly and indirectly, to the commerce of the 
 world in consequence of polar expeditions, are more than 
 equal to all the money which has been expended on these 
 enterprises.' 
 
 "Last year a whaling fleet of twelve vessels was wrecked 
 in the Arctic Sea, and property to the amount of half a mil- 
 lion of dollars destroyed, all l)ecause of a lack of proper 
 knowledge of climatic and tidal influences, which can alone 
 be obtained by observations made in the manner provided 
 for in this bill. 
 
 "Business men have a keen appreciation of the importance 
 of these explorations to commerce. They have always been 
 anxious to aid them by liberal contributions. Some of them 
 
 8 
 
84 
 
 have been prosecuted solely by private means. The names 
 of many merchants have been given to capes and bays and 
 promontories and straits, as vouchers of tli< ame they have 
 so justly earned by intelligent devotion to science. 
 
 "Boards of trade and chambers of commerce are now, 
 through memorials, already before this committee, invoking 
 us to pass this bill, and renew the honorable work. 
 
 "The cost is slight. The ends aimed at will provoke no 
 intelligent opposition. The methods proposed are not ex- 
 perimental, but the product of experience. They have the 
 sanction and even the warmest commendation of all scien- 
 tific men of all nations. The supervision of the National 
 Academy of Sciences will insure wise provisions and safe- 
 guards against accident, disease, or failure. Dr. Hayes, the 
 eminent and successful arctic explorer, coincides fully with 
 the views herein expressed, as also do others familiar by 
 actual experience. Tbeir letters are so instructive that we 
 make them a part of this report. 
 
 "The honor of the American name is involved. Will 
 Congress suppress this zealous spirit of inquiry and adven- 
 ture, or give it scope by the passage of this bill, and a 
 meager appropriation of fifty thousand dollars? To us it 
 appears there should be but one answer, and, therefore, 
 we report back the bill with a recommendation that it do 
 pass." 
 
 On the 13th of February, Hon. A. A. Sargent, from the 
 Naval Committee of the Senate submitted as the report of 
 that Committee the House Committee's report above given, 
 concurring in its conclusions and recommending the passage 
 of the resolution. 
 
 On the 18th of June, Mr. Willis supported the measure 
 in the following speech, which appears in the Cohgresaional 
 Record of the next day : 
 
 EXPEDITION TO THE ARCTIC SEAS. 
 
 " Mr. WILLIS, of New York. Mr. Chairman, in advocat- 
 ing the measure providing for an expedition to the Arctic 
 Sea, I am assured no a[)ology is required, even in tliis period 
 of un])aralleled busiriess depression. TJie objects sought 
 by the passage of the bill are so creditable to American 
 spirit and character, so worthy the tradition of the Republic 
 tliati bespeak for it nothing but favor from the members of 
 this House. 
 
 " The bill simply provides for an appropriation of ^50,000 
 
35 
 
 toward tlie expeude of an Arctic exploration, to be con- 
 ducted under the auspices of the National Academy of Sci- 
 ence. The purpose of the expedition is scientific and geo- 
 graphical discovery. The plan, while essentially new, is 
 justified by experience. It contemplates colonization, at a 
 point between 81° and 82° north latitude, to be maintained 
 for a series of years, with a view first of pushing far north- 
 ward when occasion favors; secondly, of prosecuting for a 
 long period systematic scientific observations — a plan most 
 warndy seconded and approved by intelligent scientists of 
 every country. 
 
 "Mr. Chairman, no man in this country exceeds me in 
 reverence for the Constitution. I believe in the strict ob- 
 servance of all limitations on governmental powers; but, 
 so far as he legitimacy of this appropriation is in question, 
 there is no hook to hang a doubt upon. 
 
 "It is justified by an express provision of the Constitution 
 
 'TO REGULATE COMMERCE.' 
 
 "If any expenditure for this purpose is legal, then assuredly 
 is this one; it contemplates the ascertainment of physical 
 laws, which control storms and tides — methods whereby 
 latitude and longitude can be accurately calculated ; a mode 
 of determining all the conditions wliich effect the varia- 
 tions of the compass. And eertaiid}', sir, a commercial na- 
 tion will not fail to recognize the advantage and the propriety 
 of this expedition, especially a nation which recurs with so 
 much pride and pleasure to the glorious achievements of 
 Kane, of Wilkes, of Hall, and of Hayes. 
 
 "While the cost is slight, the benefits to accrue are incal- 
 culable. Every man who indulges in a smile of incredulity 
 will be shamed when he learns from the testimoi y of a 
 Loomis or a Henry, whose death we were called upon so 
 recently to deplore, to what an extent the knowledge already 
 acquired by like expeditions has been valuable ; human life 
 has been economized, and proi»erty saved amounting in 
 value to twentv times the cost of all expeditions ever sent 
 to that region of snow. 
 
 "Far back in the centuries nations worthy of the name, 
 exulting in courage and enterprise, have been ambitions to 
 seek knowledge in the remotest parts of the earth, when 
 means were imperfect and people comparatively unintelli- 
 gent. Will an American C%)ngre8s, supposed to represent 
 the most advanced civilization, and)itious to exert sovereign 
 
 
86 
 
 sway over tlie soas, hesitate to encourage this iiioveiiient? 
 If it d()C'.<, our yroude^it traditions will be belied ; dishonor 
 will tarnish our fame. It will indicate that as a nation ad- 
 vances in wealth and power it relapses in pride and enter- 
 prise, and becomes enslaved by ignorant selfishness. 
 
 "The American people denuind the passage of this bill; let 
 their liepresentatives respond with alacrity. 
 
 "Enterprising citizens, trusting to our public spirit, have 
 already enlisted, have contributed their means, and sent for- 
 ward an advance guard of this expedition. The Florence, 
 under command of Captain Tyson, who is already famed 
 for his courage in the same field of discovery, is now win- 
 tering in the far-away realms of the north, planting a colony 
 there, and gathering supplies fur tlie party expected to pro- 
 ceed thither so soon as Congress shall extend its aid by the 
 passage of this bill. Private enterprise is in the van; shall 
 we halt? Hundreds of hardy men, gentlemen, too, of the 
 highest scientific attainments, are now awaiting an oppor- 
 tunity to join in the movement. Shall this spirit be sup- 
 pressed ? 
 
 "Never was there an opportunity so f .rable. 
 
 " It is easv tiow to ijuard a<»:ainst tlie accidents atid diseases 
 which generall V have overtaken the heroic adventurersin that 
 region of ice. 
 
 "Other nations are all engaging in this glorious rivalry. 
 England is fitting out one expedition, Sweden another, 
 Russia another. All geographical and scientific societies 
 are discussing with zest the projected enterprises, and every- 
 where the peculiar plan provided for in this bill commands 
 ap[)roval and applause. 
 
 "All the faults and mistakes of former expeditions may be 
 avoided. 
 
 "Kemember always, that geographical discovery, though 
 very important, though adding greatly to the stock of knowl- 
 edge, is entirely inconsequential compared to the import- 
 ance t)f the scientific results that are sought, and it must be 
 subordinated. Hitherto it has been the aim, and the very 
 fact that locomotion was insisted upon has defeated experi- 
 ment and scientific discovery. 
 
 "To attain results sought, it is essential to make synchro- 
 nous observations covering a long j)eriod of time; condi- 
 tions vary to such an extent that observation and experiment 
 here and there, now and then, have very slight value. On 
 the plan proposed, taken in connection with other ex[)e(li- 
 
37 
 
 tions in dift'ercnt parts of the arctic belt, every facility will 
 be enjoyed for these Hiniultatieous observations and experi- 
 ments. During the next year England will be represented 
 on the eastern coast of Greenland, Sweden at Behring's 
 Straits, Germany at Obi, Russia among the Vogels and 
 Ostyaks of Obi and Qrtysh. 
 
 "All the nations are industriously engaged in an effort to 
 establish stations at different points of the arctic circles. 
 Never in the past has there been such a promising field for 
 discover}'; what an aggregation of results if only carried 
 out. Let us not hesitate in this race for glory. 
 
 "Why, sir, we now expend in our own country tens of 
 thousands of dollars in our Signal Service alone. Is there 
 a madnuin who proposes to abolish it? We expend tens of 
 thousand.s more in maintaining a Naval Observatory. Is 
 there a madman who would abolish it? And yet limited, 
 indeed, is this field of inquiry. Meteorology and astronomy 
 are the only sciences investigated, and under what limited 
 conditions I How slight the play of natural forces. There is 
 almost an entire absence of phenomena in either sphere. 
 
 "In pursuit of scientific truth go north! There extreme 
 conditions abound, also phenomena seen nowhere else upon 
 the globe. Phenumena so grand, startling, and intense that 
 they divulge the most hidden mysteries of nature. Its work- 
 shop is there in full operation. You not ordy ascertain what 
 pertains to meteorology, but to almost every branch of hu- 
 man science. A knowledge of terrestrial magnetism which 
 is controlled b}' and exercises a reciprocal control over cos- 
 micai and atmospherical action. A knowledge of the atmos- 
 phere itself, its currents, its phenomena, its relation to heat 
 and moisture, galvanism and electricity. The magnetic 
 needle there is never stationary. The effect of those moun- 
 tains of ice; how heat is engendered and distributed; cur- 
 rents put ill motion to mingle in combat with each other ; 
 how climate is efiected and how the wrathful hurricanes 
 originate. Such are the subjects to be investigated, the 
 sublime [iroblems to be solved, which can be*8olved only in 
 that far distant territory of ice and snow. 
 
 " Who will fail to recognize the utility of such inquiries, 
 and who, realizing the advantage to commerce, the benefit 
 to mankind, will begrudge the small appropriation asked 
 for? I shall not stop to demonstrate the incidental results 
 to proceed from this enterprise. Geology, natural history, 
 paleontology, and botany will be enriched no less than the 
 
88 
 
 sciences practically useful, for cotmnercial purpose, wliich I 
 have already hastily mentioned. 
 
 " Do not suppose that the Bennett expedition will disjiense 
 Avith the necessity of this one. Its ohject is praiseworthy ; 
 the prayers of millions will follow that a<lventurous eraft; 
 but its purpose is wholly different. Scientific discovery is 
 not thought of. The discovery of an open sea, or a north- 
 west passage is the daring aim of its heroic leader, wIk^sg 
 amhition it is to eclipse his exploits in the interior of Africa 
 with the grandeur of his daring among the icebergs of the 
 Polar Sea, and may he and his countrymen speedily exult 
 in the full fruition of his ambition. 
 
 " Let the two exi)editions be rivals in the pathway of glory. 
 Let ii be proclaimed that the representatives of the people 
 are exponents of all that is most glorious, most ennobling, 
 most unselfish in American character. Let the crew of the 
 Florence^ far away in Cumberland Harbor — striving to ac- 
 cumulate provisions and prepare the way for the arrival of 
 a colony, under the auspices of their Government receive 
 some slight recognition for their self-denial. Do not, by 
 heeding the voice of selfishness and sordid greed, compel 
 them to remain there neglected to die or to return broken- 
 hearted because discountenanced by a government they 
 vainly strive to exalt. 
 
 '* 1 attach the report I have prepared upon this subject, ex- 
 plaining more fully the character and purpose of the expe- 
 ■dition." 
 
 On the 18th of June, a final eft'ort was made to obtain 
 action on the bill, Mr. Danford, of Ohio, moving in the 
 House to suspend the rules and pass it. The bill was read 
 and the question being put there were, ayes 65, noes 56. 
 Mr. Danford then called for the yeas and nays which 
 were ordered, and the vote being taken resulted as follows: 
 
 YEAS. 
 
 . Acklen, 
 
 Dwight, 
 
 .Torgenson, 
 
 Rnbliins, 
 
 Aldrich, ^ 
 Bhcou, 
 
 Eaiiics, 
 
 Keifer, 
 
 Ryan, 
 
 Ellsworth, 
 
 Kclley, 
 
 Schlcicber, 
 
 BftRley, 
 
 Fort, 
 
 Ketcham, 
 
 SiniiickBOD, 
 
 Bilker, Mm. H. 
 
 Foster, 
 
 liHpbnm, 
 
 Stewart, 
 
 Blair, 
 
 Freeman, 
 
 Latlirop, 
 
 Stone, Joseph C. 
 
 Ticiyd, 
 
 Frye, 
 
 Lind8py, 
 
 Tonrnsend, Amog 
 
 Brigg8, 
 
 Qarlidld, 
 
 Luring, 
 
 Walt, 
 
 Brogden, 
 
 Oaiise, 
 
 Marsh, 
 
 Walker, 
 
 Uiindy, 
 
 Gibson, 
 
 McCook, 
 
 Ward, 
 
 Buri'liard, 
 
 Goode, 
 
 Mcflowan, 
 
 Warner, 
 
 Burdiek, 
 
 Hanna, 
 
 McKinley, 
 
 Welch. 
 
 Butler, 
 
 Hiirmer, 
 
 Mitchell, 
 
 Wifrgiiiton, 
 
 Cain, 
 
 Hart, 
 
 Monroe, 
 
 Williams, A. S. 
 
 Oaiiipbell, 
 
 Hatikull, 
 
 Oliver, 
 
 Williams, Andrew 
 
89 
 
 CaRwell, 
 
 Hcndee, 
 
 O'Neill. 
 
 
 Williams, Richard 
 
 Cliiflin, 
 
 Henderson, 
 
 Overton, 
 
 
 Willis. Alberts. 
 
 CnuRor, 
 
 Henkle, 
 
 Phelps, 
 
 
 Willis, BenJ. A. 
 
 Criiv.ns, 
 
 Hfnry, 
 
 Phillips, 
 
 
 Willlts, 
 
 iMlltoKl. 
 
 Hunter, 
 
 Polbird, 
 
 
 Wren.— 86. 
 
 DitviH, lloriice 
 
 Ittner, 
 
 Pngh, 
 
 
 
 Dtinnell, 
 
 Jones, Frank 
 
 NAVS 
 
 Heed, 
 
 
 
 Hesars. Aiken, 
 
 Cutler, 
 
 Hnbbflll, 
 
 
 Ross, 
 
 AtkiuH, 
 
 Davidson, 
 
 IJuniphrey, 
 
 
 fjtmpson. 
 
 linker, John H. 
 
 Davis, Joseph J, 
 
 Hnnton, 
 
 
 8app. 
 
 Ik-ll, 
 
 Deau, 
 
 Joms, James T. 
 
 Scales, 
 
 lilurkliurn, 
 
 Deering, 
 
 Jones, .John 8, 
 
 Si'Xton, 
 
 IllollUt, 
 
 Denison, 
 
 Kei^thtley, 
 
 
 Shelley, 
 
 Houck, 
 
 Dlbrell, 
 
 Kenna, 
 
 
 SiuKleton, 
 
 Hiagg, 
 
 Dickey, 
 
 Knott, 
 
 
 Smith, A. Herr 
 
 llrentuno, 
 
 Durham, 
 
 Ligon, 
 
 
 Smitli, Wm. £. 
 
 Brinvitr, 
 
 Kdeii, 
 
 Lockwood, 
 
 
 Southard, 
 
 Bridges, 
 
 Klam, 
 
 Luttrell, 
 
 
 Sparks, 
 
 liriRlit, 
 
 Errett, 
 
 Lyiide. 
 
 
 Springer, 
 
 Browne, 
 
 Kvans, I. Newton 
 
 Mackey, 
 
 
 8tarin, 
 
 Calieil, 
 
 Ewinj;, 
 
 Maish, 
 
 
 Steele, 
 
 Caldwell, John W. 
 
 Felton. 
 
 Mayhani, 
 
 
 Stenger, 
 
 Calkin-i, 
 
 Finli'y, 
 
 McKcn/ie, 
 
 
 Stone, John W. 
 
 Ciinillev, 
 
 Koriioy, 
 
 Met<-alfe, 
 
 
 Strait, 
 
 Onnnon, 
 
 Franklin, 
 
 Mills, 
 
 
 TliouipsoD, 
 
 ChalnnTH, 
 
 Fuller, 
 
 Morgan, 
 
 
 Throckmorton, 
 
 Clnrk of Missouri, 
 
 Gardner, 
 
 Morse, 
 
 
 Townsend, M. I. 
 
 Clarke of Kentucky, 
 
 Garth, 
 
 Muller, 
 
 
 Townshend, R. W. 
 
 Clymer, 
 
 (liddlngs, 
 
 Patterson, G 
 
 w. 
 
 Tucker, 
 
 Cobb, 
 
 Hamilton, 
 
 Patterson, T. 
 
 M. 
 
 Turner, 
 
 Cole, 
 
 Harden hergh. 
 
 Prideinore, 
 
 
 Turiiey, 
 
 Collins, 
 
 Uariis, Henry R. 
 
 Randolph, 
 
 
 Vance, 
 
 Cook, 
 
 Harrison, 
 
 Rea, 
 
 
 Veeder, 
 
 Covert, 
 
 Hartridge, 
 
 Reagan, 
 
 
 Waddell, 
 
 Cox, Jacob D. 
 
 Hartzell, 
 
 Reilly, 
 
 
 White, Michael D. 
 
 Cox, 8ainuel 8. 
 
 Haycrt, 
 
 Rice, Atnericus V. 
 
 Whitthorne, 
 
 Crittenden, 
 
 Herbert, 
 
 Riddle, 
 
 
 Williams, Jamas 
 
 CulbtTBOU, 
 
 Hewitt, G. W. 
 
 Roberts, 
 
 
 Wilson.— 127. 
 
 Cumniings, 
 
 Uiscock, 
 
 Robinson, 0. 
 
 D. 
 
 
 
 NOT VOIING. 
 
 
 
 Messrs. Ballon, 
 
 Eickhotf, 
 
 Ijamlers, 
 
 
 Sayler. 
 
 Banks, 
 
 Kills, 
 
 Manning, 
 
 
 Shallonberger, 
 
 Banning, 
 
 Evans, James L, 
 
 Martin, 
 
 
 Slenione, 
 
 Bayue, 
 
 Evins, John H. 
 
 McMahon, 
 
 
 Smalls, 
 
 lleelie. 
 
 Glover, 
 
 Money, 
 
 
 Stephens, 
 
 Benedict, 
 
 QuntiT, 
 
 Morrison, 
 
 
 Swann, 
 
 Bicknell, 
 
 Hale, 
 
 Mulilrow, 
 
 
 Thornburgh, 
 
 Bisbee, 
 
 Harris, Benj. W. 
 
 Neal, 
 
 
 Tipton, 
 
 Bland, 
 
 Harris, John T. 
 
 Norcross, 
 
 
 Van Vorhea, 
 
 Bliss, 
 
 Hat(h«r, 
 
 Page, 
 
 
 Walsh, 
 
 Boone, 
 
 Hazelton, 
 
 Peddie, 
 
 
 Watson, 
 
 Biicknur, 
 
 Hewitt, Abram 8. 
 
 Potter, 
 
 
 White, Harry 
 
 Caldwell, W. P. 
 
 Hooker, 
 
 Pound, 
 
 
 Williams, C. G. 
 
 Caiuji, 
 
 House, 
 
 Powers, 
 
 
 Williams, Jere N. 
 
 Carlisle, 
 
 Hungerford, 
 
 Price, 
 
 
 Wood, 
 
 Chittenden, 
 
 James, 
 
 Quinn, 
 
 
 Wright, 
 
 Clark, Alvah A. 
 
 Joyce, 
 
 Rainey, 
 
 
 Yeates, 
 
 Clark, Rush 
 
 Killinger, 
 
 Rice, William 
 
 W. 
 
 Young.— 78. 
 
 Crapo, 
 
 Kinunel, 
 
 Robertson, 
 
 
 
 Douglas. 
 
 Knapp, 
 
 Robinson, M. 
 
 S. 
 
 
 So (two-thirds not voting in favor thereof) the rules were 
 not suspended. 
 
 f. :l 
 
 kJ 
 
40 
 
 THE PRELIMINARY ARCTIC EXPEDITION 
 
 OF 1877-78. 
 
 Ill the spriuff and early summer of 1877, a number of 
 public spirited and generous eitizeiis of the United States, 
 having faith in the sueeess of the Coh)nization phin as a 
 means of Arctie exph)ration, and believing in its ultimate 
 a[)proval bv Congress, in ihstantial aecordanee with the 
 bill reported favorably from the Committee on Naval Affairs 
 of the House of Representatives at the last session of the 
 Forty-fourth and at the second session of the Forty-fifth 
 CongresH, eontributed from their private means a sufficient 
 sum for the [)urchase and outfit of a small vessel to be sent 
 to the Arctic seas for the iiurjtose of collecting such 8Ui)plie8 
 during the winter of 1877-78, as might be useful for the 
 main expedition of 1878, if that expedi^^ion should be author- 
 ized. It was at first intended to limit tlie mission of this 
 vessel to the collection of material only, but the opportunity 
 for scientific investigation was so inviting, and the added 
 cost incurred thereby so very trifling in comjiarison with 
 the results to be attained, that space was made on board for 
 two observers and their necessary apparatus. One of these 
 observers was selected upon the recommendation of Professor 
 Elias Loomis, of Yale College, and instructed to pay especial 
 attention to meteorological phenomena, while the other was 
 selected as naturalist of the expedition by Professor Spencer 
 F. Baird, of tha Smithsonian Institution, from whom he re- 
 ceived special instructions. 
 
 Captain George E. Tyson, who served on board the Po- 
 laris with Captain Hall, was entrusted with the task of se- 
 lecting a suitable vessel for the preliminar}' expedition, 
 which, while large enough to accon)plish the desired objects, 
 would not exceed in cost the sum available for its purchase 
 and outfit. After careful examination he selected the Flor- 
 ence, of New London, a schoonor of fifty-six tons Vjurden 
 which was purchased upon his recommendation, and the 
 work of strengthening her for ice navigation at once com- 
 menced under his personal supervision. It was at first hoped 
 to have the vessel ready for sailing on ^he 25th of July, 1877, 
 but the illness of Captain Tyson, and the prevalence of rainy 
 weather delayed her until the morning of August 3d, upon 
 which date she sailed with a full crew and complete outfit 
 for one year's work, including the necessary apparatus for a 
 whaling voyage on a small scale, in order that the vessel 
 
41 
 
 [ON 
 
 nbiT of 
 States, 
 an as a 
 Liltiinate 
 vith the 
 1 Affairs 
 ri of the 
 )rtv-tifth 
 iufiic'ient 
 ) 1)0 sent 
 supplies 
 for the 
 l; author- 
 1 of this 
 )ortunity 
 le added 
 son with 
 ward for 
 I of these 
 Professor 
 J especial 
 )ther was 
 Spencer 
 )m he re- 
 
 :1 the Po- 
 
 isk i)f se- 
 Lpedition, 
 d objects, 
 purchase 
 the Fhr- 
 8 burden 
 , and the 
 >nce com- 
 irst hoped 
 uly, 1877, 
 e of rainy 
 , 3d, upon 
 lete outfit 
 ratus for a 
 the vessel 
 
 on her return voyage nii<;ht bring a cargo of bone and oil, 
 and thus make the enterprise a sell-supi»orting one, if 
 possible. 
 
 The public interest evin(;ed in the proposed Arctic colony 
 was very gratifying from the tirst, and the titling out of the 
 preliininary expedition brought applications in great num- 
 bers, both personal and by letter, from parties desirous of 
 accompanying it as mcnd)ers of the crew, as passengers, or 
 in any capacity that \soidd enable them ti) share in the pro- 
 spective honors of the enterprise. The good material offered 
 was so large that it made the selection i\ difKcult task ; l)Ut 
 it is believed that no little band, l>etter fitted for the work, 
 by strong frames, courage, and endurance, ever went forth 
 to the Arctic seas than those who sailed upon tlie Florence. 
 The officers and crew were as foUows : 
 
 George E. Tyson, New London, master; William Sisson, 
 New London, first mate; Dennison Burrows, New London, 
 second mate; Eleazer Cone, New London, steward; Orray 
 Tatt Sherman, Providence, meteorologist and photographer; 
 Ludwig Kumlein, Madison, Wisconsin, naturalist; Richard 
 B. .York, Norwich; William A. Albin, Sag Harbor; James 
 W. Lee, New London, and doel B. Bottles, of Granby, sea- 
 men. Charles Henry Fuller, Colchester; Davi<l E. Keese, 
 York, Pennsylvania, and Jolin McParland, New London, 
 green hands. Of the crew the youngest was nineteen years 
 old, and the oldest oidv twenty-four. 
 
 The i'Yorenee was a good sea-boat, staunch, stout, sea- worthy, 
 and a fast sailer, and was thoroughly strengthened tor her 
 encounters with tlie ice. The supply of provisions and 
 other stores for officers and crew was ample for twelve 
 months, and might, if necessary, be made to last six months 
 longer. Kind friends i'rom all parts of the country con- 
 tributed from their stores, in addition to articles of food and 
 clothing, a liberal supply of books and pa[>ers to while away 
 the long, weary hours of the sunless Arctic winter. A spare 
 berth in the forecastle was filled with story-books, histories, 
 novels, and volumes of poetry. A large trunk was filled to 
 overflowing with papers, and still another loaded down 
 with magazines; the whole making a library of considerable 
 dimensions. The heads of several Departments of the 
 Government showed a kindly interest in the expedition, 
 not merely by verbal approval, but by substantial aid. The 
 difterent bureaus of the War Department, acting under the 
 authority of the Secretary of War, were particularly active 
 
42 
 
 .ii tliG ninttor. The OrdnaTioe Offioe tuniiHliod rifloH and 
 niuskots, and iiO(!o»Karv ammunition. The ('iiief Signal 
 Ortieor of the Army Hupplicd a comploto outfit of uecewBary 
 instruments for making meteorologi(!al obsurrtcrvations. The 
 !Sur<:feon (:}inieral fnrniHh«Kl a RUi)itly of rnedicmies and the 
 neccHsary minor Hur<i^ieal instrumentH for use in ease of acci- 
 dents to members of the expedition, and the Quartermaster 
 (ieneral furnished tents and camp equiy^aire. The Secretary 
 of the Navy furnislied a comj>lete outfit of maps, charts, 
 and sailintif directions. To these heads of Departments and 
 Bureaux the ffratcful thanks of the friends of Arctic exi)h)r- 
 ation are (hie for their timely and efHcient aid. The citizens 
 of the United States, from all (juarters and all directions, 
 came forward with contributions in monev or in kind, in 
 support of the undertaking. No better test of the interest 
 •^elt in the subject, and the conviction entertained of its 
 importance and the ultimate success of tiie expedition, 
 could be found than in this widely spread and voluntary 
 support. Many of these contributions were accomi)anied 
 by letters filled with prayers for the success of the under- 
 taking. All classes of the community, and nil portions of 
 its territory were represented in these donations; and it 
 would be invidi(ni8 to name those who gave largely, while 
 so many gave, from their humble store, what may most 
 aptly be termed "the widow's mite." 
 
 The following instructions, furnishsd to Captain Tyson 
 upon the day of sailing, will give an idea of the aim, objects, 
 and scope of this preliminary expedition: 
 
 WASurNGTON, July 19, 1877. 
 Captain George E. Tyson, 
 
 Commanding Preliminary Arctic Expedition of 1877, 
 
 JSew London, Connecticut. 
 
 Sir : The command of the schooner Florence, of the Pre- 
 liminary Arctic Expedition of 1877, is intrusted to you, and 
 the officers and men forming the crew are enjoined to render 
 strict obedience to your orders. 
 
 Tn the event of your death while on this expedition — an 
 event which is to be devoutly hoped may not occur — tlie 
 command will devolve upon the tirst mate, and should he 
 also be disabled or die, upon the second mate ; and such sur- 
 vivor will carry out, to the best of his ability, the objects of 
 the expedition, keeping a stout heart and committing him- 
 self and comrades to the care ot Divine providence. 
 
48 
 
 THK 013JKCT OF THE KXI'EMTIUN. 
 
 Tlic priiiijiry object of the expudition is tlio collcctioii of 
 iiiatorial lor the use of the future c()h)ny on the sliores of 
 Ludy F^'uiiklin Bay. This material will eonsift of Esquimaux 
 to the iiumher of ten tajuilieH — if that iinml)tr can he oh- 
 taiiiecl of youn^, strong, lieulthy persons willing to he truiiH- 
 ferred to the loeation of the future colony — of dogs, not leas 
 than twenty-tive in nuniher, mostly fenuiles, and selected for 
 their docility, training, strength, and endurance; of sledges, 
 two in numl)er, and completely and carefully fitted U[» for 
 travel, and of clothing in ample (piantities to supply tifty 
 persons for three years. The clothing will be carefully se- 
 lected, of choice furs and skins, and all made up hy native 
 women. Tiie secondary object of the expedition is the col- 
 lection of scientific data aiul specimens, as the field is a new 
 one and possessing unusual interest. 
 
 WHALING EN VOYAGE. 
 
 The third, and to tlie crew most interesting object, is the 
 capture of a sufHcie'it amount of hone and oil to make a 
 profitable return cargo, and this part of the work is so com- 
 pletel}' within your own province that I will not venture to 
 give any instructions. I nmst caution you, however, to be 
 on your guard against letting the pursuit of gain interfere 
 in any manner with tlie successful issue of the two first 
 named objects of the exjtedition. It is from them that the 
 lasting results of the voyage will be obtained, and the inter- 
 ests of science and commerce best subserved. The precise 
 locality of your winter quarters is left in a great measure to 
 your judgment, but should probably be on the northern side 
 of Cumberland Island. In making tlu; selection, if the state 
 of weather and condition of the ice leaves any choice, the 
 locality should be that wliich is best adapted for the collec- 
 tion of su[»plie8, and which offers the best facilities for break- 
 ing out in the sunmier of 1878, in time to reach Disco by 
 August 1, if pcssible, and certainly not later than August 6. 
 
 CARING FOR THE NATIVES AND DOGS. 
 
 Provision must be made for the proper maintenance and 
 care of the natives who are to become members of the future 
 Polar Colony ; and also of the dogs, which are to form so 
 important a part of the outfit of that colony. They must be 
 quartered as comfortably as the limited accommodations of 
 the schooner will permit, fed well and kept thoroughly 
 clean. 
 
44 
 
 THE SCIENTISTS. 
 
 The two scientific members of the expedition, while not 
 fomiinG;, strictly speaking, a part of the crew, will, in case 
 of necessity, be rorpiired to perform duty, and will at all 
 times be subject to your orders and discipline. Every proper 
 facility will be given them in tlie discharge of their respec- 
 tive duties and to aid in securing Full and valuable results 
 from their labors. Mr. Sherman will have charge of the 
 meteorological instruments, observations and records, and 
 of ibe photographic apparatus and work. In both of these 
 duties It is m^' wish that ^-ou should aid him, cheerfully and 
 constantly', and in the event of his sickness or inability, from 
 any cause to attend to his observations, to make such arrange- 
 ments as will insure a continuous series of the most import- 
 ant ones. The utmost caution must be exercised in handling 
 the delicate instruments, to guard against their breakage or 
 other injury and the consecpient interruption of the observa- 
 tions. The results of the photographic work will be very 
 interesting to the general public as well as to the scientific 
 student, and every opportunity should be taken to secure 
 good negatives of places, localities and objects, and also of 
 the different operations connected with the pursuit and cap- 
 ture of whales, seals, &c. Mr. Kumlein, who goes as the 
 representative of the Smithsonian Institution under the in- 
 structions of Professor Spencer F. Baird, the distinguished 
 naturalist, for the purpose of collecting specimens of the flora 
 and fauiui of the country, will be accorded the most ample 
 facilities for the perfornumce of his duties consistent with "a 
 proper regard for the main object of the expedition, llis 
 labors, if properly supported and reasonably successful, will 
 l)rove, it is hoped, of lasting advantage, and make the expe- 
 dition a notable one in scientific annals. 
 
 THE EXPEDITION OF 1878. 
 
 On reaching Disco in August, 1878, if the vessel carrying 
 the members and outfit of the colony has arrived, you will 
 transfer to such vessel the Esquimaux, dogs, sledges, and 
 clothing collected for the purpose, and take the command- 
 ing ofMcer's receipt for the same. This being done, ;you will 
 return as rapidly as possibly to New London, whence you will 
 report by telegraph to me at Washington, D. C, for further 
 orders. If the colonization vessel has not arrived you will 
 wait for it until August 15, when you will store the sledges 
 
 i 
 
45 
 
 and clothing to tlie core of the Governor of Disco ; leave the 
 dogs also in his care, and return the natives to their home on 
 Cumberland Island, This done you will return to New 
 London and report, as before, for instructions. 
 
 Should any of your crew wish to accompany the coloni- 
 zation you will grant them permission to do so, with the 
 consent of the commander of that expedition, and provided 
 you retain enough men to bring the Florence safely back to 
 the United States. 
 
 TEMPERANCE. 
 
 Great care must be exercised in the use of spirituous liquors, 
 both among the members of the expedition and in dealing 
 with the natives. Useful as liquor undoubtedly is in its 
 place, and under suitable restrictions, it is easily capable of 
 the most frightful abuse and of leading this expedition to 
 disaster as it has done others in the past. I trust in your 
 strong, good sense and past experience to guard against 
 danger from this source, and desire you to know that I have 
 only permitted a supply in (juantity of liquors to form part 
 of the Florence's outfit in deference to your own strongly 
 expressed wishes. 
 
 DEALING WITH ABORIGINJIS. 
 
 In dealing with the natives, it is my wisli, as doubtless it 
 is your inclination, that you should be kind and liberal to 
 the extent of your means and ability, and in all points of 
 difference, should any arise, to l)e just but firm. 
 
 FINAL. 
 
 Bear constantly in mind the fact that this is not a whaling 
 voyage but the iirst step in a work that will, I trust, when 
 completed, be a noteworthy one in the annals of geograi)h- 
 ical and scientific discovery. The fact should also be care- 
 fully impressed upon the crew, in order that they may work 
 intelligently and with proper interest. 
 
 Be careful of the health of your men, using such measures 
 for the pur[)ose as your long experience in Arctic waters 
 suggest as necessary. 
 
 In conclusion, I commend yourself and crew to the care 
 of an All-wise Power, with the prayer that your voyage may 
 be prosperous and your return a safe and happy one. 
 
 H. VV. IIOWGATE, 
 
 United IStates Army. 
 
 % 
 
46 
 
 INSTKUCTIONS TO THE METEOROLOGIST. 
 
 Washington, D. C, July 10, 1877. 
 
 Mr. O. T. Shxsrman, 
 
 Me(eorolo(/ist, Preliminary Antic Expedition of 1877, 
 
 New London, Connecticut, 
 
 Sir: The accompany ins: instructions were kindly pre- 
 pared l)y Professor Cleveland Abbe, and are furnished 
 you as suggestions for your general guidance in making 
 meteorological observations. These vsuggestions may pos- 
 sibly be modified of necessity by varying circumstances and 
 conditions, but should not be departed from in any im- 
 portant degree : 
 
 1. It is considered very desirable to maintain a system of 
 regular hourly ol)servations night and day, for the record of 
 which the accompanying blank book will serve as the first 
 volume, one horiziontal line being devoted to each hour, and 
 at least four pages devoted to each da^^'s record, so that both 
 regular and miscellaneous observations and notes may all 
 appear together in the same book. 
 
 Even if iiourlv observations cannot be maintained regu- 
 larly by yourself and those of the ship's crew who can as- 
 sist you, still it will be best to rule the book as for hourly 
 observations, and attempt a bi-hourly or a tri-hourly series, 
 tilling in intermediate hours whenever possible. 
 
 2. As regards the time to be used in recording observa- 
 tions, it is especially enjoined that you do not attempt to 
 employ local times, but that you uniformly employ the 
 Washington mean time as given by the ship's chronometer, 
 and to which your own watch should always be regulated. 
 Furthermore, it is evidently of little importance whether 
 the series of observatiojis are made at the beginning of each 
 hour or at some other minute, and it is therefore preferred 
 that your regular records be made at 0.35 A. M., 1.35 A. 
 M., etc., dating them, of course, according to civil reckon- 
 ing, by which means three of your observations will become 
 simultaneous with those of the Signal Service, and will thus 
 form a valuable addition to its bulletin of international 
 simultaneous observations. 
 
 3. Accompanying this vou will tind a schedule suggest- 
 ing that arrangement of the vertical columns on each page. 
 
47 
 
 
 which experience has shown to be most convenient. The 
 contents of these columns are as follows : 
 
 1. Hours of observation. 
 
 2. Attached Thermometer. 
 
 3. Reading of the Barometer. 
 
 4. Barometric Corrections and Reductions, viz : 
 Correction for Instrumental Error. 
 Correction for Temperature. 
 
 Reduction to Sea Level. 
 6. Atmospheric Pressure at Sea Level, or the Barometer 
 as corrected and reduced. 
 
 6. The Dry Bulb Thermometer. 
 
 7. The Wet Bulb Thermometer. 
 
 (Both should be read to tenths of a degree.) 
 
 8. Relative Humidity. 
 
 9. Force of Vapor. 
 
 10. Dew Point. (8, 9, and 10 taken from Guyot's Reg- 
 nault.) 11. The reading of the Hair Hygrometer. (If pos- 
 sible, several of these will be furnished for comparison.) 
 
 12. True Direction whence the wind blows. 
 
 13. Estimate Force of "Wind (on the International scale of 
 zero to ten.) 
 
 14. Reading of the Anemometer Dial. (If possible, two 
 anemometers, one elevated much higher than the other, 
 should be used. The simple, single reading of the dial run- 
 ning up to 9999 is all that need be recorded, as the hourly 
 and daily velocities can be deduced subsequently.) 
 
 15. Repetition of column 1. 
 
 IG. Tlie Amount (in tenths,) kind and direction of the 
 Upper Clouds. (Pay close attention to the direction, and 
 record it with reference to the true meridian of the sixteen 
 compass points; give the direction vvhence the clouds move, 
 and, to secure accuracy, have a tixed point, on the earth by 
 which to judge of their motions.) 
 
 17. Ditto for the lower clouds. (If three layers are seen, 
 record the middle one in the miscellaneous notes.) 
 
 18. The color of the sky near the zenith, as compared with 
 the standard scales B., R., or G., (blue, rose, gray.) 
 
 19. Ditto for the zenith distance 45°. 
 
 20. The Weather — that is to say, the most striking charac- 
 teristics of the weather. 
 
 21. The fall of Rain, or heavy mist, during the proceeding 
 hour. 
 
 22. The fall of snow and sleet unmelted. 
 
Ii»»' 
 
 --"""mttvnKf' iVJi ffnK^ny-,ffHsl^) fJgj^^ 
 
 
 48 
 
 28. The amount of melted snow and sleet. (These ohser- 
 vations can he made on shi})-hoHrd to a considerable advant- 
 age by placing two or four rain gauges symmetrically on the 
 starboard and larboard.) 
 
 24. The Record of the Tide Gauge. (This very import- 
 ant observation should be caretnlly attended to whenever on 
 shore or frozen up during the winter.) 
 
 25. Temperature of the ocean water near the surface. 
 
 26. Temperature of the ocean water at a constant depth of 
 about twenty feet. 
 
 27. The color of the ocean water as compared with stan- 
 dard sesiles, G., B., Y., and R., (green, blue, yellow, and ved.) 
 
 28. Direction and Intensity of the ocean swell or waves. 
 
 29. Repetition of column 1. 
 
 30. The Deviation of tbe magnetic needle. (For this ob- 
 servation a delicate compass needle will serve if no appro- 
 priate nuignetic apparatus can be obtained. Its fluctuations 
 will probably be quite decided during Auroras.) 
 
 31. The visibility of Auroras, Ilalos, Zodiacal Liglit. 
 (The thiee phenomena should be carefully looked for on all 
 occasions, and if visible, the appropriate word or the corres- 
 ponding symbols agreed ujion at the Vienna Congress should 
 be entered in this column, reserving a fuller description for 
 the miscellaneous notes.) Aurora, Lunar Halo, Solar Halo, 
 Lunar Corona, Solar Corona.) 
 
 32. Regnault's apparatus for observing the Dew Point 
 should be employed systematically, if any way possible to 
 do so. 
 
 33. Among the especially interesting observations is that 
 of the actual height of clouds and direction of air currents, 
 as revealed by sending up small balloons, which are fur- 
 nished you for this purpose. Attach to each balloon a light 
 thread, one hundred feet long, in such a manner that it will 
 pull away at the slightest tension. Hold the other end of the 
 thread fast in the fingers, and count seconds from the watch 
 while the balloon is ascending. Record in column 33 the 
 number of seconds required to ascend 100 feet, which is the 
 vertical velocity of the balloon. 
 
 34. The horizontal direction taken by the balloon. 
 
 35. Its horizontal velocity, as estimated by comparison 
 with the surrounding country. 
 
 36. The time elapsing before it disappears in the clouds. 
 
 37. The Densit}' of the sea water. 
 
 Columns 1 to 14 occupy page 1 ; columns 15 to 28 occupy 
 
49 
 
 le obser- 
 
 advant- 
 
 y on the 
 
 import- 
 never on 
 
 rface. 
 depth (^f 
 
 nth stan- 
 and red.) 
 r waves. 
 
 ir this oh- 
 110 appro- 
 ictuations 
 
 al Light, 
 for on all 
 ie corres- 
 ess should 
 •iption for 
 r»lar llah), 
 
 )e\v Point 
 )0S8ihle to 
 
 ons is that 
 f currents, 
 h are fur- 
 aon a light 
 that it will 
 end of the 
 the watch 
 mn 33 the 
 hich is the 
 
 oon. 
 3oniparison 
 
 the clouds. 
 
 ) 28 occupy 
 
 page 2 : columns 29 to 37 occupy [)ortion of page 3. The 
 rest of page 3 and the whole of page 4 of each day's record 
 is to be occupied by short miscellaneous notes, among which 
 are to be included the latitude and lorigitude of the vessel 
 when at sea. If you visit any port at which meteorolo^ncal 
 records are kept, you should not fail to compare your instu- 
 ments with those used at such places, as a check upon the 
 agreement of the records. 
 
 Among the numerous miscellaneous observations that are 
 desirable from northern latitudes are many that will be 
 found referred to in the Manual and Instructions for the 
 Arctic Expedition of 1875, to which you arc hereby re- 
 ferred, as also to the reports of the Permanent Committee 
 of the First International Meteorological Congress at 
 Vienna: 
 
 
 
 
 (Page 
 
 '•) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1877, 
 
 August 7, Monday, at 
 
 sea, ^r 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 BAIiOMETKll. 
 
 
 PSVCHOMKTEU. 
 
 
 li 
 
 f, 2 
 
 Wind, 
 
 Wasuinqion Time. 
 
 1 
 
 S 
 
 i-, 
 ^ . 
 
 r. 
 
 IS and re- 
 
 tious. 
 
 r corrected 
 
 educed. 
 
 
 i 
 
 o 
 
 a. 
 
 ei 
 
 
 
 a 
 1 
 
 
 
 r 
 
 romete 
 
 rrectioi 
 due 
 
 £"■■ j£ 
 
 m 
 
 1 
 
 "3 
 .a 
 
 >- 
 
 o 
 
 0) 
 
 C 
 
 1 
 
 it,— 
 
 1 
 
 rce. 
 emome 
 
 
 
 < &'a 
 
 ss 
 
 X 
 
 ■1 
 
 ^ 
 
 a 
 
 s 
 
 £ ^ 
 
 Hours. 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 12 h 35m A M 
 
 
 2 
 
 3 ' 4 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 e 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 n 
 
 12 
 
 
 Ih .'i.Om A M 
 
 18 14 
 
 2h 35ni A M 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 {Page 2.) 
 1877, August 7, Monday, al sea, ,\-c. 
 
 
 UfPKB CtQUDS. 
 
 Lower Clouds. 
 
 CoLon of 
 Sky. 
 
 is 
 
 Rainfall. 
 
 
 OCRAK 
 
 • 
 
 
 "Washinqton 
 
 ,TlME. 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 < 
 
 i 
 
 12 
 
 1 
 
 O 
 
 u 
 
 a 
 
 AmooDt. 
 Kind. 
 
 a 
 1 
 
 •a 
 
 ve deT 
 
 es. 
 
 a 
 
 1 
 a 
 
 21 
 
 Snow and 
 .Sleet. 
 
 1 
 U 
 
 s 
 
 1? 
 •§ 
 
 24 
 
 'IVni- 
 perature. 
 
 1 
 
 c 
 
 U 
 
 o 
 
 § 
 
 27 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 Not 
 melted. 
 
 1 
 
 g Surface, 
 g Deep. 
 
 00 
 
 1J.;!5 A. M... 
 1:35 a. M 
 
 
 16 
 
 
 17 
 
 
 18 
 
 lu 
 
 20 
 
 22 
 
 23 
 
 28 
 
 vWZF. 
 
 o,!<..''~" '. -^^-fis^^iCS&si&iSifiiisestAiiJ^j^smcjtummiiQ^ii^^ 
 
rf. 
 
 
 
 60 
 
 (Page 3.) 
 1877, Augu*t 7, Montiay, at sea, cj-c. 
 
 
 a 
 
 i 
 
 t 
 
 Shall Ballcionb. 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 « 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 » 
 
 ~ Horizontal. 
 
 
 1 
 
 Washinoton Time. 
 
 "WO 
 
 = Ml 
 2-3 
 
 "3 
 
 g 
 
 a 
 
 
 1 8 
 
 >i 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 
 U W 
 
 
 
 
 *> 
 
 c 
 
 g 
 
 erti 
 irec 
 
 eloc 
 
 iffer 
 clo 
 
 S 
 
 Z 
 
 
 p> 
 
 <! 
 
 X 
 
 f» e 
 
 t» 
 
 « 
 
 a 
 
 
 30 
 
 31 
 
 32 
 
 33 ;« 
 
 35 
 
 36 
 
 37 
 
 (P.ige 4 ) 
 1877, Angutt 7, Monday, at sea, S;e. 
 
 Short miicoUaiioous notes. 
 
 In addition to the foregoing the following suggestions of 
 Professor Loomis are furnished for your information and 
 guidance : 
 
 '•The meteorologist should be specially instructed, not 
 only to make the routine observations at fixed hours, but 
 also to be constantly on the watch for ewory unusual phe- 
 nomenon connected either directly or remotely with meteor- 
 ology. He ought to keep a detailed record of all auroral 
 phenomena, and it is extremely desirai)le that the expedition 
 should have suitable instruments for the declination of the 
 needle, and the changes which accompany auroral display. 
 I think particular attention should be given to observing the 
 direction of the wind, and also the direction of the highest 
 visible clouds, and their direction ought to be recorded with 
 great precision. Especial attention should be given to the 
 optical phenomena of the atmosphere, such, for instance, as 
 halves-jiarhelia, &c. The polar regions exhibit phenomena 
 of this class more remarkable than those we often see in the 
 middle latitudes, or, pe.'haps, have ever seen, and these ob- 
 servations, to be of much value, should furnish precise mea- 
 surements of the dimensions and portions of whatever is 
 observed, particularly of those features which are most un- 
 usual." 
 
 These special suggestions, with such general ones as you 
 will find in the Arctic Manual, in Professor Loomis' Work 
 
51 
 
 
 
 16 37 
 
 Oil .Meteorology, in Buolmn's Handy-book, and the other 
 works on Meteorology which have been fumislied to you 
 will be sufficient to indicate tlie extent of the work to be 
 done, and its most valuable features. It is especially im- 
 pressed u[)oii jou to keep full and detailed notes of all 
 items of daily observation and occurrence, in order that 
 nothing of value may l)e lost. The memory must not be 
 trusted for details, V)ut everything intended for future use 
 shouUl be committed to writing at the time the matter is 
 fresh and capable of verification. 
 
 H. W. H0W(UTE, 
 
 United iStates Aniiy. 
 
 tions of 
 ion and 
 
 ed, not 
 nrs, but 
 lal phe- 
 meteor- 
 auroral 
 pedition 
 n of the 
 display, 
 ving the 
 highest 
 fled with 
 n to the 
 tance, as 
 en omen a 
 ee in the 
 these ob- 
 cise mea- 
 atever is 
 most u li- 
 es as you 
 lis' Work 
 
 MEMORANDUM ADDRESSED TO J. KUMLEIN, NATURALIST OF THE 
 EXPEDITION, RELATIVE T(> THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE 
 REGION TO 15E VISITED; BY PROFESSOR SPENCER F. BAIRD. 
 
 The region you visit is one of the most interesting in 
 Korth America, and the least exi»lored by the naturaUst. It 
 will furnish an ample field for research, especially as you 
 will be on shore during the greater part of your absence 
 from the United States. 
 
 Your principal object should be to make collections of 
 everything in the etlinological, aniuial, vegetable, mineral, 
 and tossil departments, so that you can prepare a report 
 thereon, perhaps an illustrated one, to be published in some 
 suital)le manner upon your return. In view of this you 
 should make copious notes of the habits, associations, and 
 general ct)ndition of everything that you meet with. 
 
 Of mammals, good mountable skins of the pt)lar liear, pre- 
 pared with alum or saltpeter, will be desirable. A series of 
 reindeer should also be obtained, as well as foxes, hares, and 
 other animals. A good series of seals properly [»repared 
 will enable us to solve many questions in regard to our own 
 species at home. 
 
 The walrus, both male and female, should be procured. 
 
 As many skeletons as are procurable, and several skel- 
 etons of all land and water mammals will be readily 
 marketable. 
 
 The skins of cetaceans cannot readily be preserved unless 
 possibly they can be preserved in salt. Sketches should be 
 made of the outlines and distribution of color of each, and 
 the corresponding skulls and skeletons should be preserved. 
 
62 
 
 Piirticular attention should be |»ai(l to the narwhal, skel- 
 etons of whieh are niueh in demajid. 
 
 If opportunity i.s allowed you, Bome skulls of the smaller 
 whales ought to be procured. 
 
 Itegarding birds, a special nieniorandum, prepared by Dr. 
 Brewer and myself, has been furnished. You will, of course, 
 look very carefully for the small insectivora and conirostres, 
 to determine, as far as possible, the northern distribution of 
 our species. Saxicolas will probably be frecpiently met 
 with. 
 
 Of water fowl, the rarer geese, the Labrador duck, Sa- 
 bine's and Ross's gulls, and the Ivory gull are those which 
 it is most desirable to obtain. 
 
 Any petrels or shearwaters will also be of iiuerest. 
 
 Endeavor if p()ssil)le to obtain specimens of black guille- 
 mot, with a blackish bar partly across the white of the 
 wing. 
 
 Reptiles you will probably not tind, unless it may be a 
 frog, which of course should be secured. 
 
 The fishes should be looked after ver}- particularly, and 
 especially the diiferent species of trout, salmon, and white 
 fish, which should be secured, if possible, of ditferent ages 
 and in the different seasons, to show the variations of the 
 spawning condition. 
 
 Any large salmon or trout, say over a pound or two in 
 weight, would be better preserved by being skinned and the 
 skins [>ut in alcohol, although a sketch of the original ought 
 to be made. Any other species of fish you had better pro- 
 cure as they may present themselves. 
 
 Of course it will be important to obtain a full rei>resenta- 
 tion of the insects of the country, such as butterflies, bee- 
 tles, etc. 
 
 Whatever species of marine invertel)rates are procurable 
 should be gathered in ; foi* example, star-fish, shells, crus- 
 taceans, and the like. 
 
 If you should succeed in securing a complete sc^ries of dl 
 the varieties of animal life, if possible, in several sets, liie 
 great object of your mission will have been accomplished. 
 
 You should endeavor to secure a variety; but a complete 
 collection will be of much interest. Any ciioice mineral 
 specimens ought to be obtained, es]iecially of the crystaliue 
 varieties. Get samples nf all the rocks constituting the 
 strata. These should be sketched, with their overlying i)o- 
 sition indicated and verified by s[)cciniens. 
 
68 
 
 Look very carefully for roekn containing fossil remains, 
 either of plants or of animals Some very interesting spe- 
 cinuMisof sanrians have heen brought from ditt'erent |iortions 
 of Arctic America, while the fossil plants are of very great 
 importance. 
 
 Make a thon)Ugh stu.ly of the ethnology of the country, 
 securing as many cr.mia of Esrpiimaux as jiracticable ; pro- 
 cure skeletons also if they can be got. Illustrations of the 
 handiwork of the natives in objects of stone, bone, wood, 
 etc., ought to be carefully gathered, especially any that are 
 of great anti(]uity, and such as are superseded by modern 
 articles. 
 
 Spencer F. Baiud. 
 
 S((leni, 31ass. 
 
 The following extract from the London Standard of Au- 
 gust the 18th, 1877, isof interest, as showing the appearance 
 t f things on board the Florence when about to sail : 
 
 " An occasional correspondent writes from New York : 
 On the morning of Tuesday, the last day of July, I saw an 
 announcement in the New York Herald to the effect that the 
 Arctic ex|»loring ship Florence^ under the command of Cap- 
 tain George E. Tyson, would sail from New London on the 
 following day. 1 innnediately resolved, as a member of the 
 last British Polar cxi)edition, to go down and give him and 
 his comrades a hearty farewell and God speed. I took a 
 passage in the handsome steamer City of New York, and 
 leaving New York city in the evening woke next morning 
 at New London. It is a pretty little town of 12,000 peo[»le, 
 situated on X\\v Thames, a fine river, wider than the English 
 one after which it is named New London is of considera- 
 ble importance as a seaport, and you meet there a number 
 of persons who have been actively employed in whaling and 
 sealing. Incpiiring my way to Haven's Dock, where the 
 Florence lay, I soon found her alongside the jetty, some 
 caulkers closing the hold, and the men carrying on board 
 their beds and clothes bags. On the upper deck were some 
 casks of water and barrels of biscuits, firmly lashed ; also, 
 planks and spare spars. The Florence is quite a small ves- 
 sel, a schooner of 50 23-100 tons. She has storage capacity 
 for 300 barrels of oil. She was built at Wells, Maine, in 
 1851, but is still a staunch craft and good sea boat. Pre- 
 
il«l 
 
 54 
 
 l»nratory to lior last cruise she wiis thoroughly overhauled 
 and renovated, and nm(h' Jis "rood as new. Ilcr lenjrth is 
 H4 feet, beam 19 feet, and she has u d(>pth of 7 feet. She 
 curries no forctopniaat, and is an aft schooner with a s(nuiro 
 sailvard athwart. Stepping across a plank, T gained the 
 deck, and ,icoin<; aft, discovered the officers' cabin. It is a 
 small space, measuring about eiij^bt feet in all three direc- 
 tions, and haviny; a small table in tlio centre; overhead 
 were stowed half a dozen Sprinij field rifles and a double 
 barrelled gun. On each side of the cabin are two bucks, 
 one above the other. Those on the port side are apjiro- 
 priated to the use of the scientiHc; officers, and the other 
 two to the second mate and stewanl. When I was there 
 the former gentlemen were busily engaged in stowing their 
 effects in their bunks under tlieir beds. Tins of sardines, 
 novels, and newspapers were oddly mingled with articles of 
 clothing and scientific instruments. 
 
 There appeared to be plenty of space, but imagine the 
 labor of constantlv haviniii; to disarrange the entire collection 
 in order to obtain some trifle which happens to be placed at 
 the bottom! Aft of the cabin, and on either side of the 
 entrance to it, are two "state rooms" — a pretentious title 
 for little dens of six feet by four, half of which limited space 
 is occupied by the bed placed over a small chest of drawers. 
 These sanctums are designed foi- the ca})tain and first mate. 
 On the other side of the cabin is the kitchen, a little cham- 
 ber not five feet high or four feet wide. The crew, of whom 
 there are eight, are located in a small cabin in the bows; 
 they have good, wide bunks, which appear comfortable 
 enough. The walls of the officers' cabin are of 4-inch plank. 
 The stem has been replauked with 10-inch tind)er8, covered 
 with 2-inch planks, giving her bow a total thickness of six- 
 teen inches, sufficient to resist the blows from floating masses 
 of ice which she may expect to encounter in the North. 
 She carries a sufficient stock of provisions, pork, canned 
 meats, biscuits, and spirits ; also 15 tons of coal. She is well 
 provided with ammunition, having 0,000 ball (sartridges, 
 1,000 pounds of buck shot, two barrels of powder, and 200 
 pounds of rifle powder. She also takes plenty of whale line, 
 as she hopes to secure some whales in Baffin's Bay. The 
 Florence carries three boats, one hanging astern from da\itP, 
 and one on each quarter. The Stars and Stripes flcinted 
 bravely at the nuistliead ; tlie morning was bright and fine, 
 and a number of spectators came on board to see the vessel, 
 
 iiiYiwm-rtTTH-ni-'ii-i-rif "•i;fV'n~-Mttynwi"Tmir'-i"'"r''^ 
 
56 
 
 ■or stood oi) the jt'tty (lisciisHiiii^ lior chances. Ciiptniji Tyson 
 in iU'compairu'd l)y William feisson, a portly native of New 
 London, as tirst mate. Dennison Burrows, of Now Lon- 
 don, is second mate, and Eleazer Cone, also of New Lon- 
 don, is steward. Mr. Orray Taft Sherman, of Providence, 
 a graduate of Yale, '77, and a tine, tall young man, under- 
 takes the duties of meteorologist and piiotographer, whilst 
 Mr. Ludwig Kumlein, of the Smitlisonian Institute, is 
 naturalist. 
 
 The crew consists of eight tine young fellows of from 19 
 to 24 years of age, with one exception all natives of New 
 London, and accustomed to a seafaring life. They seemed 
 to me the right men for the work, and had only heen en- 
 gaged on the day before I visited the ship. Asking one of 
 them what his pay would be, he replied, " A fiftieth." 
 When I said "What of?" he ••^plied, "I don't know and 
 care less." They seemed equally inditterent as to when they 
 return, but have the option of coming back next year. 
 
 I afterwards crossed the river in the ferry to call on Cap- 
 tain Buddington, who was failing master under Captain 
 Hall in the Polaris in 1871, and took the command after his 
 death. Asking to be directed to the Captain's residence, 
 which is a mile or so from the town, I was offered a seat in 
 his buggy by a gentleman who was driving that way, with 
 that kindness which is ?o pleasing a characteristic of the edu- 
 cated American. There we found the worthy Captain 
 amusing himself, as many old sailors love to do, by working 
 in his garden in the cool of the evening. On my introducing 
 myself he welcomed me into his comfortable cottage, wliere 
 we conversed for some time on Arctic work and enterprise. 
 He is dee[)ly interested in the matter, though after 40 years' 
 work amongst the ice in the Northern and Southern seas, 
 he justly thinks himself entitled to end his days in the peace- 
 ful serenity of a rural life. On my rising to go he kindly 
 accompanied me half way to the town, and there Captain 
 Tyson came on board the steamer, and wished good-bye to 
 Captain Howgate and myself, as we were returning to New 
 York. 
 
 The Florence had been unable to leave, because of the 
 state of the win^l, but it was intended that she should weigh 
 anchor next morning. May this expedition advance a step 
 further than its predecessors into the unknown regions, and 
 add more facts to the sum of human knowledge." 
 
 At ten minutes past ten, on the 3d of August, the tug took 
 
r 
 
 66 
 
 her in tow, and with a stiff* fresh hrcozn filling all her canvas^ 
 and kt'epinu; her bow lor how with the steamer, slie went 
 flyinif down tlie harbor, dipping her colors in farewell to 
 friends on shore, who watched lier out of siglit. On hoard 
 all was snug and ship-sli;>pc ; l)oth otKcers and men wer& 
 impatient ot tiie delay whieb they had met witli, and gladly 
 saw the tug steaming out to ti«ke her in tow. A fact i)leas- 
 ant to Ite remembered was tlie ahsetu'e of any appearance, 
 niueh less the reality, of any intoxication amongst the crew 
 of the little vessel. 
 
 The following communication from Captain Tyson was 
 received on the 26th of August, 1877: 
 
 Schooner Flouence, August 9, 1877. 
 
 Captain H. W. Howuate, 
 
 United States Armi/, Washington, D. C. 
 
 Sir : I have the honor to report the progress of the Pre- 
 liminary Polar Expedition. 
 
 Augxsf 2, half past ten A. M., we left New London, with 
 the wind to the northeast. The progress made on the suc- 
 ceeding days and the facilities for sailing will be shown by 
 the following citation from the log: 
 
 August ^.— I A\i. 40 52, Ion. 70 30; wind N. E. ; course, 
 magnetic, S. E. 
 
 August 4.— Lat. 40 40, Ion. 68 50; wind N. E.; course, E. 
 8. E." 
 
 Auqustb — Lat. 41 52, Ion. 67 19; wind N. E.; course, E. 
 byK 
 
 August (i. — Lat. 43 13, Ion. 65 1 ; wind N, ; course, E. by N. 
 
 Auqusl 7. — Lat. 44 34 Ion. 63 36; wind S. W.; course, E. 
 by N! half N. 
 
 August 8. — Off Beaver Island light; becalmed in fog. 
 
 August 9. — Lat. 45 9; ott'Camp Canso; calm 
 
 THROUGH THE STRAITS OF BELLE ISLE. 
 
 It is intended to sail across the Gulf of St. Lawrence and 
 through the Straits of Belle Lsle, for thus we hope to save 
 time and be rid of much bad weather. 
 
 Although it is now a week since we left port we have 
 missed nothing essential trom the equipment. The vessel 
 meanwhile has behaved splendidly, and the crew have shown 
 themselves to be composed of good working material. 
 
 In the scientific department work has also advanced. 
 
57 
 
 uivas, 
 went 
 
 ■fU to 
 board 
 wcro 
 gladly 
 ploaH- 
 ranee,. 
 L5 crew 
 
 »n was 
 
 877. 
 
 lie Pre- 
 
 11, with 
 ■he Buc- 
 own by 
 
 course, 
 
 iirse, E. 
 
 irse, E. 
 
 L by N. 
 urBe, E. 
 
 fog. 
 
 MK'c and 
 i to save 
 
 we have 
 le vessel 
 k'e shown 
 ial 
 dvanced, 
 
 though more slowly, since it has been thought inexpedient 
 to place the instruniontH. A bird of a rare species has been 
 obtained. All of us arehoi)eful of success. 
 Very res[)i'ctfully, 
 
 Georob E. Tyson, (oft' Cape Canso.) 
 
 Oil the 22(1 of November, the following letter was received 
 from the hardy navigators: 
 
 NiUNTiLicK Harbor, Cumberland Gulf, 
 
 September 29, 1877. 
 Captain 11. W. 11u\V(iatp], 
 
 Uinted States Arnii/, Wdshinptoii, D. 0. 
 
 Dear Sir : After a long and tedious passage of forty days 
 we reached our present harbor on the 13th of September, 
 and r avail myself of the first whaler returning to 8cotlan(l 
 to communicate with you and our friends at home. 1 do 
 not find matters here as I had hoped, owing to the })re8ence 
 of a large number of whalers and but few natives. This 
 will make great competition for the trade of skins and other 
 material, and compel us to pay higher prices than would 
 otherwise have been the case. To avoid this I would have 
 gone to another harbor had it been a little earlier, but now 
 it is too late to attempt a cliange. * * * j shall soon 
 move the vessel into winter quarters at the head of the gulf, 
 where I hope to be more successful. 
 
 ^ n* 1* T* T* ^ ^F 
 
 HEALTH OF THE CREW. 
 
 The health of the men continues excellent and our sup- 
 plies prove of good quality and in abundance. All feel 
 confident of nuiking the expedition a profitable one, even if 
 we should fail in collecting all the stores called for in your 
 instructions. But we shall endeavor to accomplish all you 
 could wish us to do. 
 
 WORK OF THE EXPEDITION. 
 
 Mr. Sherman has got fairly at work nuUving observations, 
 and has obtained some good photographs of whaling and 
 native scenes. Mr. Kumlein is busy, and is adding to his 
 collection constantly, although a little disappointed at find- 
 ing the number of rare specimens fewer than he had ex- 
 pected to find them. It is yet too early to say how we shall 
 fare, but when the first feeling of homesickness wears off 
 
08 
 
 '■"wTtlf goK^hes to you and to all our friends at home, 
 1 remain, with great respect, qeoboe E. Tyson. 
 
 t 
 
69 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 PLAN FOR THE EXPLORATION OF THE 
 ARCTIC REGION. 
 
 [A paper prepnreil by Crtptnin H. W. Ilowgnte, U. S. A., and rend at 
 the meeting of the American Geographical Society, in New York, January 
 
 ■n, 187H.] 
 
 The plan of Arctic Exploration and Discovery, in further- 
 ance of which I have the honor of appearing' before you this 
 eveninii;^is one to establish a colony of hardy, resolute, and 
 intelligent men at some favorable point on or near the 
 borders of the Polar sea, and providing it with all modern 
 appliances for overcoming the physical obstacles in the p.ith- 
 way to the Pole, and for resisting the eifects of hunger, of 
 cold, and of sickness, to deprive it of the means of retreat, ex- 
 cept at stated periods of lime. The location selected as the 
 site of the proposed colony is on the shore of Lady Franklin 
 Bay, neai' the seam of coal found by the Discovery of the 
 English expedition of 1875. 
 
 The idea of establishing such a colony is not a new one, 
 as it was advocated by Dr. Hayes as far back as 18()2, and 
 has since that date been approved In' this society and by the 
 action of foreign societies and explorers. This fact accounts, 
 in great part, for the almost unanimous support with which 
 the so-called Ilowgate plan hi).^ been received. 
 
 The results of the hist English ex[)edition, and modern 
 improvements in means of locomotion and communication, 
 render it [iv)ssible to locate farther north than in the earlier 
 days of Arctic ex])loration, when sailing vess^'ls were used. 
 
 The expedition of Cnptain Hall in the Polaris in 1871, and 
 of Captain Nares i:i the ^i/erf and iJisrooeri/ in 1875, have 
 shown that, by the use <jf steam, it is a comparatively easy 
 matter to nacli the entrance to Robeson's chaimel in lati- 
 tude 81° north, and that the serious diHiculties to be over- 
 
60 
 
 come lie beyond that point. Parties from tiiese two expe- 
 ditions have made fair surveys 140 miles north of this point, 
 leaving about 400 miles of unexplored regions between it 
 and the ijoal of modern ffeoijraphers — the Pole. 
 
 When Captain Hall i-eached the upper extremity of 
 Robeson's channel the lookout of the Polaris reported open 
 water in sight and just beyond the pack which surrounded 
 the vessel and impeded further progress. This open water 
 was afterwards seen from the cape at the northern oi»ening 
 of Newman's bay, and it was the opinion of the crew of that 
 ill-fated vessel, that if she had b(^en but the fraction of an 
 hour earlier in reaching the channel, they could have steamed 
 unobstructed to the ]?*ole itself, or to the shores of such 
 lands, if any exist, as may bound the so-called open Polar 
 sea. We know that they did not succeed, but were forced 
 to winter almost within sigiit of this sea, and subse(juently, 
 disheartened by the loss of their gallant coninuinder, aban- 
 doned the enterprise. 
 
 Where this open water was found. Captain Nares, in 1875 
 and 1876, found solid, impenetrable i/e, through Vhich no 
 vessel could force its way, and over which it was ec^ually 
 impossible for sled parties to work. 
 
 These facts appear to show that within the Arctic circle 
 the seasons vary as markedly as in more temperate southern 
 latitudes, and that the icy barriers to the Pole are sometimes 
 broken up by favoring winds and temperature. To get fur- 
 ther north, or to reach the Pole, promi)t advantage must be 
 taken of such favoring circumstances, and to do this with 
 the greatest certainty and with the least expenditure of time, 
 money, and human life, it is essential that the exploring 
 party be on the ground at the very time the ice gives way and 
 opens the gateway' to the long sought prize, fully prepared 
 to improve every opportunity that offers. 
 
 The i)ermanent colony should be furnished with provisions 
 and other necessary supplies for three years, and should consist 
 of at least fifty selected men, mustered into the service of the 
 United States, three commissioned officers, and two sur- 
 geons, all to be selected with a view to their especial fitness 
 for the work — young, able-bodied, resolute men, who can 
 be depended upon to carrj' out instructions to the extreme 
 limit of human endurance. An astronomer and two or 
 more naturalists, to be selected by the National Academy of | 
 Sciences, and to work under instructions from th.it body, 
 but subject to such general supervision and directiojis from 
 
 trw 
 
61 
 
 ) two expe- 
 
 f this point, 
 
 between it 
 
 xtremity of 
 ported open 
 surroutuled 
 i o\>en water 
 ern opening- 
 crew of tbivt 
 •action of an 
 [lave steamed 
 ares of such 
 1 open PoUir 
 t were forced 
 subse(iuently, 
 lauder, aban- 
 
 ^ares, in 1875 
 uu'h M'hich no 
 t'^was eciually 
 
 > Arctic circle 
 M-ate southern 
 are sometimes 
 To getfur- 
 ntage must be 
 do this with 
 diture of time, 
 the exph)rinff 
 u-ives way and 
 tuUy prepared 
 
 with provisions 
 d should consist 
 le service of the 
 and two sur- 
 especial fitness 
 men, who can 
 to the extreme 
 lier and two or 
 nal Academy of ! 
 Vom that body, 
 directions from 
 
 tlie head of the expedition as is customary at all posts in 
 charge of an officer of the United Slates, shouUl acconi}>any 
 tlie expedition. One or more members of the regular force 
 should be competent to make meteorological observations, 
 and to communicate by telegraph and signals whenever such 
 communications become necessary. An annual visit should 
 be made to the colony to carry fresh food and sup}»lies; to 
 keep the members informed of events occurring in tiie out- 
 side world, and bear them news and letters from anxious 
 relatives ; to bring back news of progress made and of a 
 private character to friends ; also, if necessary, to bring back 
 invalided members of the expedition, and carry out fresh 
 colonists to take their places. In this wa\ • morale of the 
 colony would be maintained, and the phy,^ iue of its mem- 
 bers kept constantly at the maxinmm, and the knowledge 
 that this annual visit would be made would do much to 
 alleviate the discomforts of the long Arctic night, and the 
 feeling of isolation so graphically described by Arctic 
 exi)lorers. 
 
 Captain Hall spent eight years among the Esquimaux, nnd 
 each year found himself better fitted to withstand the severity 
 of the Arctic circle, and the colony would, it is believed, in 
 like manner become acclinuited, and eventually succeed in 
 accomplishing the long sought end. 
 
 Whh a few strong, substantial buildings, such as can be 
 easily carried on shipboard, the members of the colony could 
 he made as comfortable and as safe from atmos[theric dan- 
 gers as are the men of the Signal Service, stationed on the 
 summits of Pike's Peak and Mount Washington, or the 
 employes of the Hudson's Bay Company, stationed at Fort 
 York, or elsewhere, where a temperature of — 60° is not 
 uncommon. 
 
 A good supply of medicines, a skillful surgeon, and such 
 fresh provisions as could l)e found by hunting {)artie8 
 would eiuible them to keep off scurvy and nuiintaiu as good 
 a sanitary condition as the inhabitants of Godhaven, in 
 Grreenland. Game was found in fair quii itities by the 
 Polaris party on the Greenland coast, and by those from the 
 Akvt and Discorery, on the mainland to the west, especially 
 in tile vicinity of tjie lastnamed vessel, wiiere tiftv-four 
 musk oxen were killed during the season, with (juantities of 
 other and smaller game. The coal found by the Discovery's 
 party would render the question of fuel a light one, and thus 
 remove one of the greatest difficulties hitherto encountered 
 by Arctic voyagers. 
 
 ■m 
 
62 
 
 There seems to be little douht that Lady Franklin Bay can 
 he annually reached by a steum-vessel, as Captain Hall went 
 as high as Cape Union, between latitude 82° and 83° with 
 the Polaris, and Captain Nares still higher with the Alert 
 It is possible that the last named [loint may be reached with 
 the vessel, in which case coal and provisions could be de- 
 posited there to form a secondary base of operations fcM* the 
 exploring party. If this latter can be done, the road to the 
 Pole will be shortened by about ninety miles in distance, 
 and three weeks or more, in time — two very important 
 items. It should be clearly \. iderstood, that the only use to 
 be made of the vessel which it is hoped to obtain from tlie 
 Government, is in the transportation of the men and sup- 
 plies to the location of the colony. When this is done, the 
 vessel will return to the United States and await further 
 instructions. To the expeditionary corps brought from the 
 United States should be added a number of Escpiimaux fami- 
 lies to serve as hunters, guides, &c., and also an ample num- 
 ber of Es(iuimaux dogs, so indispensable for sledging, and 
 so useful as food when their capacity for work is gone. 
 
 The colony should he kept under the strictest disci[>line, 
 and to this end should be formally enrolled in the military 
 service, save, perhaps, the strictly scientific members. By 
 discipline only can such control ])e exercised as will be in- 
 dispensable to the successful prosecution of the work. One 
 cannot read without pain, the account of the Polarif^ expe- 
 dition, where the bonds of discipline, only too h)ose before 
 Hall's untimely death, were entirely relaxed after it. The 
 first in command of the new expedition should be a man 
 able not only to gauge men, but to control them, and his 
 second should be like unto liim. Enthusiasm and energy 
 are desirable, but coolness of temper, firmness of rule, per- 
 sistency of puri)Ose, and a well balancL-d mind, fertile in re- 
 sources and expedients, are indispensable to success. 
 
 The outfit of the expedition should include, amon^' other 
 things, an ample supply of copper telegrai>h wire to connect 
 the colony at Lady Franklin Bay with the subsidiary d(!pot 
 at Cape Union, and thence northward, as far as practicable. 
 Copper wire is strong, light, flexible, and a good conductor, 
 and can be worked while lying upon the dry snow or ice 
 without support. The necessary battery material and instru- 
 ments should be taken to equip the line, and the battery left 
 permanently at the bay station, where, fuel being abundant, 
 it could be kept from freezing. A special forin of instru- 
 
68 
 
 Bay can 
 all wont 
 ^3° witli 
 ;l\e Alerf 
 led with 
 d be de- 
 ^; for the 
 ud to the 
 distance, 
 iii\»ovtant 
 \\y use to 
 from the 
 and sup- 
 done, the 
 it further 
 : from the 
 lanx fan\i- 
 11 pic num- 
 Iging, and 
 s gone, 
 discipline, 
 le military 
 ibers. By 
 will be in- 
 ork. One 
 ,larts expc- 
 )0se before 
 erit. The 
 he a man 
 m, and his 
 and energy 
 
 rule, per- 
 ertile in re- 
 ess. 
 
 niontc other 
 e to connect 
 diary depot 
 ^aacticable. 
 \ conductor, 
 
 snow or ice 
 1 and instru- 
 
 battery left 
 
 u- abundant, 
 m of instru- 
 
 ment has been devised for the expedition, by whicli the 
 use of battery is dispensed with entirely, and it is possible 
 that the recently discoverd telephone may be ai)plied to ad- 
 vantage. It should certainly form a part of the outfit. 
 Much attention has been given to the possible use of bal- 
 loons as a means of observation and, jierliaps, of exploration. 
 I am now in correspondence with distinguished aeronauts 
 in this country and in France upon the subject, and a series 
 of experiments has been instituted to determine the practi- 
 cability of obtaining a suitable material for the covering of 
 the balloons that will resist low temperature. Here, as 
 elsewhere, the coal mine plays an important part, as by its 
 aid the necessary supply of gas can be readily and quickly 
 procured. 
 
 A few sets of signal equipments, such as are used in the 
 army Signal Service, would also form an important part of 
 the outfit, and all of the men should be instructed in their 
 use, and in the SiginU code. Thus provided with means of 
 communication, parties could move forward with confidence, 
 as they would be able, when necessary', to call upon their 
 comrades, who remained behind, for advice or assistance. 
 The existence of coal at the Discovery^s winter quarters 
 determines the question of colonization and the location of 
 the colony as a means of Polar exploration ; and the Nares 
 expedition would have been a success if it had done noth- 
 ing more than this. The failure of his adnnrably equijtped 
 expedition to reach the Pole is, in a great measure, attribut- 
 able to the abnormally cold season and th-e exceptional 
 character of the winds, which had resulted in the formation 
 of ice ridges running across the line of march, thus making 
 progress difficult, slow and dangerous. It is reasonable to 
 sup[>ose, from past meteorological records, that these un 
 usual conditions will not exist during tiie present season, and, 
 indeed, may not occur again for several years. Instead of 
 discouraging further effort, the result of Nares' exi)edition, 
 from the causes named, should stimulate fresh endeavors, 
 and hold out a fair [trospeet of success. En any event, the 
 little colony on Lady Fraid^lin Bay during their three years' 
 residence, besides having the opportunity of selecting an 
 open season, and becoming thoroughly hardened and accli- 
 mated, would have their work narrowed down to a com- 
 mon focus — the pathway due north. The work of the 
 Xares expedition clears the way for the final solution of the 
 Arctic problem. 
 
 ^•1 
 
64 
 
 To curry out the \)\iiu thus briefly sketched, it is (K'si ruble 
 to secure the use of u goveniineiit vessel, uiul, inusiuuch us 
 its object is one of nutiouul interest, such other Govern- 
 ment uid us might be necessary und |)ro|ier; and, accord- 
 ingly, a bill to "authorize und eijuip an Expedition to the 
 Arctic Seas" was introduced in the House of Representatives 
 January 8th, 1877, liy Mr. Hunter, of Indiunu, und referred 
 to the Coniinittee on Navul Affairs, from which it wus 
 favorably reported l»y Mr. Willis, of that ct)mmittee, Febru- 
 ary 22d, 1877. In the Senate the same bill was introduced 
 by Mr. Dawes, and referred to the Committee on Xaval 
 Affairs, February 9th, 1877. The [>ressure of other and 
 more important business then occupying the attention of 
 Congress and of the nation, prevented furtlier action during 
 the session, which closed on the 3d of Murch lust. The 
 subject wus found, however', to be one of nutioiuil and uni- 
 versal interest, and received the hearty commendation and 
 support of former Arctic explorers, of geographers, and of 
 men eminent in the several walks of science, among whom 
 I may nume the distinguished President of this Society und 
 the Hon. I. [. Huyes, l)oth of whom have from the first given 
 me their warmest encouragement and the benefit of their 
 wide exf»eri('nce. Professor .Iose|th Henry, of the Smith- 
 sonian Institute, Professor Elias Loomis, of Yale ('ollege, 
 President Potter, of Union College, Admiral Porter, of tlie 
 Navy, the then Secretary of the Navy, and most of the utH- 
 cers and crew of the I'oUtris, with many others, have given 
 the weight of their names und influence in support of the 
 enterprise in this country, while abroad 1 have abundant 
 evidence of interest from ineml)ers of former expeditions, 
 notuble umong whom ure Dr. John Rue and Captain Ken- 
 nedy, of English fame, and Lieutenant Payer, of the Aus- 
 tro-Hungurian Expedition. 
 
 As practical evidence of the interest felt in the subject in 
 this country, a number of public spirited and generous citi- 
 zens, among whom, it is a pleasure to state, those of this city 
 occupy the foremost place, having faith in the success of the 
 Colonization plan as a means of Arctic exploration, and l)e- 
 lieving in its ultimate u})provul by Congress, contributed 
 from their private means a sutiicient sum for the purchase 
 and outtit of a small vessel to be sent to the Arctic seas for 
 the purpose of collecting such supplies during the ensuing 
 winter us might be useful for the nniin expedition of 1878, if 
 that expedition should be authorized. It was at first in- 
 
 ■I" 
 
 i'?^S5S5S:^33SiSF",i:tf:itt 
 
65 
 
 esii-iible 
 iiuich us 
 Govern- 
 , accord- 
 )ii to the 
 entatives 
 
 refer red 
 \\ it was 
 c, Febru- 
 itroduced 
 on Naval 
 )ther and 
 tention of 
 i^n during 
 last. The 
 l1 and uni- 
 hitiou and 
 iVA, and of 
 ,110- wlioni 
 iocioty and 
 
 iirst <iiven 
 itit of tiieir 
 the Sniith- 
 de College, 
 )rter, of the 
 
 of the otn- 
 
 have given 
 pport of the 
 e abnndiiiit 
 ex^teditions, 
 Captain Ken- 
 
 of tile Aus- 
 
 he 8ui)ject in 
 renerous eiti- 
 se of tliis city 
 success of the 
 ition, and be- 
 ^, contributed 
 
 the purchase 
 Arctic seas for 
 g the on^uing 
 tion of 1878, it 
 
 jvs at tirst in- 
 
 tended to limit the mission of this vessel to the collection of 
 material only, but the opportunity for scientific investiga- 
 tion was so inviting, and the added cost incurred thereby so 
 very trifling in compasison with tiie results to be attained, 
 that space was made on board for two observers and 
 their necessary apparatus. One of these observers was se- 
 lected on the recommendation of Professor Elias Looniis, of 
 Yale College, and instructed to pay especial attention to 
 meteorological phenomena while the other was selected as 
 naturalist of the expedition by Professor Spencer F. Baird, 
 of the Smithsonian Institute, from whom he received special 
 instructions. 
 
 This vessel, the Florence, sailed from N"ew London Au- 
 gust 8d, witli a crew of thirteen men, all old, commanded 
 hy Captain Tyson, of '■'■Polaris" fame, and reached the 
 head of Cumberland Gulf on Septcml)er 13th, where ' has 
 gone into winter quarters. Captain Tyson's instri ns 
 are to collect such supplies as his experience shows ui be 
 necessary for the use of the future colony, and to join the 
 vessel carrying the members of the Colony at Disco in Au- 
 gust next, and in the event of its non-arrival, to return to 
 the United States. 
 
 There is reason to hope, from the knowledge and attain- 
 ments of the two scientific gentlemen accompanying, the 
 Florence, that the little vessel will, on her return, add no 
 small (juota to our knowledge of Arctic cosmogony and 
 phenomena. But however that may be, her loss or safety 
 must remain a closed book to us for many months to come. 
 What perils she ma}' meet, what dangers dare, what obsta- 
 cles overcome, we can neither know nor forecast, but she and 
 her i:;allant crew are none the less in the hands of Him who 
 rules the ice bound waste as surely as He rules this crowded 
 city, and without whose paternal knowledge not even the 
 sparrow falls. 
 
 To guard against possible delay, in the event of Captain 
 Tyson's failure to reach Disco at the proper time or without 
 proper supplies, the Danish Government has been re(pie!*te(l 
 to delay the shipment of furs from that point until the mid- 
 dle of August, in order that a supply may be purchased from 
 that source if necessary. 
 
 As soon after the opening of the present session of Con- 
 gress as practicable, the bill to authorize the expedition was 
 offered in the Senate and House of Representatives, and in 
 both referred to the Naval Committee. The House Com- 
 
 6 
 
 :j 
 
 '•fc; 
 
 \4 i 
 
66 
 
 mittee, through Mr. "Willis, of New York, who from the first 
 has been an active friend of this measure, has renewed its fa- 
 vorable report of last session, and the bill is now awaiting the 
 final action of the House upon it. From the Senate Com- 
 mittee I have the assurance of a favorable report. Senators- 
 Sargent and McPherson, having immediate charge of the 
 bill, have exhibited a gratifjMiig interest in its success, and 
 it is reasonable to hope for its final passage. 
 
 In Paris, M. de Fonvielle, who is well known as an accom- 
 plished aeronaut and man of letters, is making a scries of 
 balloon experiments for the benefit of the future colony, in 
 the foundation of which he takes a lively interest, and the 
 French Geographical Society, at its last regular session, for- 
 mally expressed its approval of the plan. The Bremen 
 Geographical Society, through its SecretarN^, Dr. Lindeman, 
 had previously expressed a similar approval, and everything 
 seems working favorably toward the accomplishment of the 
 desired end ; even the mighty forces of nature and the 
 changeful seasons appear to labor for the success of the ex- 
 pedition, for the present winter, of such unprecedented 
 mildness, will undoubtedly retard the formation of ice in the 
 Polar basin, and leave a freer passage for the Colony next 
 summer up Baflin's Bay to Kennedy and Robeson's Chan- 
 nels'. The great veteran explorer. Professor Nordenskiold, 
 and the favorable reports which he brings back with his ex- 
 pedition just returned, with the wonderful voyage of Cap- 
 tain Wiggins from the mouth of the Yenessei along the Si- 
 berian coast and through the Kara Sea, all demonstrate that 
 the open season has unsealed the ice of higher latitudes, and 
 points to a favorable northward passage during the coming 
 summer. 
 
 I have not touched this evening upon the vast interest to 
 science Avhich Polar expeditions represent, and the import- 
 ant questions which they alone can solve, nor upon the 
 geographical theories and arguments in support of the dif- 
 ferent routes that might be followed, preferring to leave the 
 settlement of these subjects to more competent hands. Tho 
 noble Earl who honors us with his presence this evening, 
 and who has won distinction in Arctic fields as well as in 
 those of statesmanship, and Dr. Hayes, whose triumphs as 
 an exp>lorer have been supplemented by those accorded to 
 the successful legislator, can tell us with the graphic tongue 
 of eyewitnesses, the wonders of the strange lands we seek 
 to colonize, and whose hidden secrets we seek to solve ; for 
 
67 
 
 first 
 [8 fa- 
 3f the 
 
 ators- 
 f the 
 ;, and 
 
 eeom- 
 
 .'ies of 
 
 ny,in 
 
 rt(\ the 
 
 •n, tbv- 
 
 remen 
 
 Ionian » 
 
 ything 
 
 : of the 
 
 ,nd the 
 
 the ex- 
 
 idented 
 
 !e in the 
 
 ny next 
 
 s Chan- 
 
 nskioUl, 
 
 1 his ex- 
 of Cap- 
 
 tr the Si- 
 ate that 
 
 ides, and 
 coming 
 
 Merest to 
 e import- 
 apon the 
 f the dif- 
 leave the 
 Ids. Thu 
 evening, 
 ^vcU as in 
 uniphs as 
 corded to 
 lie tongue 
 % we seek 
 solve; for 
 
 l)Oth have watched the colossal or fairy shapes of mountainous 
 icebergs with their changeful play of hues under the mid- 
 night sun, or the mighty arch of the Aurora, with its trail- 
 ing fringes of incandescent colors spanning tlirough the long 
 night of Arctic winter, the mystic sea of ice and silence. 
 Their presence, and that of the other distinguished gentle- 
 men who are announced to address us, and whose names 
 are as familiar us household words wherever the English 
 language is known or spoken, I hail as an augury of success, 
 and I heartily join with them and you in doing honor to the 
 name and achievements of our countryman Stanley, in pene- 
 trating the wilds of Africa. There is no city throughout 
 the whole broad Union more suitable for such a meeting as 
 the present, a city where the memory of Grinnell, the great 
 and public spirited merchant, is still green, and where so 
 many others, their hearts as generous as their means vere 
 large, have given freely of their store to aid in Arctic dis- 
 covery and in whatever else was good and noble in art and 
 science, in love and charity. 
 
 In closing, permit me at present to thank you all for your 
 attention and your kindly manifestation of interest in the 
 subject, and to hope that such action will be taken by Con- 
 gress as will invest it with added interest in the near future. 
 
 CAPTAIN SHERARD OSBORNE ON POLAR 
 EXPLORATION. 
 
 Washington, D. C, February 13, 1878. 
 
 Hon. Benjamin A. Willis, 
 
 Committee on Naval Affairs, 
 
 House of Representatives. 
 
 Sir : As a matter of interest in connection with the sub- 
 ject of Arctic exploration, I have the honor to invite your 
 attention to the following extract", from the proceedings of 
 the Royal Geographical Society of Great Britain, at its meet- 
 ing of January 23, 1865, when a paper on the exploration 
 of the North Polar Region was read by Captain (now Ad- 
 miral) Sherard Osborne, R. N. I invite your especial atten- 
 tion to these extracts as bearing directly upon the [)roposed 
 
 I 
 
 '* 
 
 .-«■: nVvboMt^KV ."1 
 
 ,\ M:^--^iisinri->A 
 
68 
 
 ufleful employment in time of peace of a portion of the 
 uavy for purposeH of scientilic and geographical exploration, 
 which constitiites the essential feature of the i)lan embodied 
 in the bill to aulliorize an exj)edition to the Arctic seas, now 
 pending in the Naval Committee. 
 
 What is here said about the British navy applies with 
 equal force to our own at the present day. Many of our 
 ships are resting idly, either in our ship yards at home or 
 rotting at anchor in foreign harbors, and our officers and 
 seamen are becoming enervated from the want of a proper 
 stimulus to their ambition. The small amount asked for in 
 this bill could, in my opinion, be wisely spared from some 
 one of the regular appropriations, and come back to the 
 country a thousand fold in the improved morale of the 
 gallant officers and men who would gladly avail themselves 
 of such an opportunity of earning personal distinction, and 
 at the same time of doing honor to tlieir country. 
 
 All that is needed, iji addition to the money asked for, to 
 equip the expedition, is the authorized use of one of these 
 idle vessels and its crew to serve as a transport for the 
 colony to the scene of action — making one voyjige each 
 year — and the authorized employment on this duty of fifty 
 persons, wliose compensation is ah-eady provided for in tiie 
 several departments from which they would be detailed.^ and 
 from which their services could be spared for the required 
 period without detriment to the public service. 
 
 In view of the great value of the geographical and other 
 scientific results to be reasonably hoped ihv from such an 
 expedition, it does not seem that there should be any hesi- 
 tation in acting favorably upon the subject, and at an early 
 date. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 H. W. IIOWGATE. 
 
 At the meeting of the Royal Geographical Society, Jan- 
 uary 23, 1865, Captain Sherard Osborne read a paper on the 
 "Exploration of the North Polar Region," from which the 
 following extracts are made : 
 
 "An exploration of the Polar area should always be sent 
 under official auspices and official disciplne. I have no faith 
 
69 
 
 the 
 ion, 
 
 liCHl 
 
 now 
 
 with 
 ■ our 
 ae or 
 1 and 
 roper 
 for in 
 some 
 to tiie 
 )f the 
 iselves 
 n, and 
 
 for, to 
 t" tiiese 
 •or the 
 ■c each 
 of fifty 
 in the 
 ed, and 
 equired 
 
 1(1 other 
 such an 
 vny hesi- 
 an early 
 
 )WGATE. 
 
 iety, Jan- 
 per on the 
 which tlie 
 
 xya be sent 
 ive no faith 
 
 in purely private expeditions on such a service as this I 
 advocate. We need all the resources of a naval dock yard; 
 all the especial knowledge collected in various departments, 
 whether in the preparation of vessels, food, raiment, sledges, 
 or e((uipment to insure the work being well and safely done. 
 Wooden ships of war are now rotting and sinking at their 
 anchors in our arsenals; all the old hulies around our sea- 
 ports are cooking their tea with heart of oak from poor 
 chopped up gun boats. 
 
 "But I have no doubt men of science, men who think 
 the navy and its officers and sailors exist for nobler purposes 
 than to slay or be slain, will find the First Lord of the Ad- 
 miralty just as amemdile to reason and healthy pressure as 
 former First Lords have been. The Admiralty will, as good 
 servants of the public, do whatever the public calls upon 
 them to do; and it is by the action of public opinion, di- 
 rected by the men of science in this country, that I hope to 
 see a Polar expedition sent forth in this generation under 
 official ausi>ices. The navy needs some action to wake it 
 up from the sloth of routine, and save it from the canker of 
 prolonged peace. Arctic exploration is more wholesome 
 for it, in a moral as well as a sanitary point of view, than 
 any more Ashantee or Japanese wars. You are not going 
 to educate us, work us up to the point of nautical perfec- 
 tion, awaken hopes and ambition, and then give us oakum 
 to pick, or run us over the masthead after top-gallant yards 
 to keep down the spirit which intellectual progress has 
 evoked. The navy of England cares not for mere war to 
 gratify its desire for honorable employment or fame. There 
 are other achievements it knows well, as glorious as a vic- 
 torious buttle, and a wise people should be careful to sat- 
 isfy a craving which is the life blood of a profession. 
 
 " Upon these grounds, as well as those of scientific results, 
 would it be too much to ask for a fraction of the vast sum, 
 yearly sunk in naval expenditure, for two small screw ves- 
 sels, and one hundred and twenty officers and men, out of 
 the fifty thousand men annually placed at the disposal of 
 the Admiralty? 
 
 J)C 3|C JJS 3(C 3(5 f^ ^ 
 
 " Of the advantages to be derived from an exploration of 
 the Polar area: In the first place there is an unknown area 
 of 1,131,000 square miles of the globe's surface a sheer 
 
 I 
 
70 
 
 ])lank. Within that area wo are [(rofonndly ii^tioraiit 
 vvlictliur tlioro l)o liindH or waters; wliotlier, as homic say, it 
 irt a silent frozen solitude, or an open sea ti-oming with ani- 
 mal life. So far as it lias yet l)een ex})lore(i in that direc- 
 tion the land haa been found capable of supportins^ not only 
 animal but human life. 
 
 " To botanists, therefore, as well as geographers, there is 
 everything to be discovered within the Polar area, and not 
 only the botany of the land, but that of the sea and of the 
 fresh water, lakes, and rivers flowing from the glaciers of 
 that ice-bound region." 
 
 " 1* V n* T* V 'F 
 
 The following extracts are from the remarks made upon 
 Captain Osborn's paper by members of the Society: 
 
 Sir Roderick Murchison, I'reaidentof the Royal Geographi- 
 cal Society said : 
 
 "Let us no„ weaken the dignity of our calling by any en- 
 deavor to show the r(<//>ono of sucl I an expedition by the hope 
 of obtaining profitable commercial results, simie it is (|uite 
 enough for us to be assured that the scientific objects to be 
 obtained are well worthy of the effort. I t'uist, therefore, 
 that, as British geographers, you will feel with me that it 
 8[)0cially pertains to our nation, which by the conduct of its 
 bold and skillful voyagers has delineate(l on the map of the 
 world, the outlines of land and water over so large an area 
 of the Arctic regions, to complete these grand surveys, by an 
 endeavor to hoist the Union Jack at the North Pole itself" 
 
 The President also read the following extract from the 
 writings of Sir John Barrow, for many years Secretary of 
 the Admiralty : 
 
 " The physical power of the navy of England has long bten 
 duly appreciated at home, also by most foreign nations, and 
 is matter of public record; its moral influenco, though less 
 the object of publicity, requires only to be more extensively 
 known to be equally felt and esteemed; and nothing can be 
 more conducive to this end than the results to be derived 
 from voyages of discovery whose great aim has been the 
 acquisition of knowledge, not for England alone, but for the 
 general benefit of matdcind. But it may be asked cui bono 
 are these northern voyages undertaken? If they were merely 
 to be prosecuted for the sake of making a passage from 
 England to (Jhina, and for no other purpose, their utility 
 
71 
 
 It 
 
 mii^lit fairly be questionL'd. Hut when the acciuisitioii of 
 knowledge is the ground work of all the iiirttriictioii under 
 which they are sent forth ; when the eoniiuunding officer is 
 directed to cause constant observations to be made for the 
 ad\'aneenient for every branch of science — astronomy, navi- 
 gation, hydrography, meteorology, including electricity and 
 nuignetism — and to make collections of subjects of natural 
 history ; in short, to lose no opportunity of actiuiring new 
 and im})()rtant information an<l discovery; and when it is 
 considered that these voyages give employment to officers 
 and men in time of peace, and produce officers and men not 
 to be surpassed, perhaps not equalled, in any other branch 
 of the service, the ([uestion cui bono is readily answered in 
 the words of the minister of Queen Elizabeth, "Knowledge 
 is power." 
 
 (reneral Sabine, President of the Royal Society, sai<l, "he 
 was particularly impressed by what had been said with re- 
 gard to aftbrdin"^ to the officers of the navy an opportunity 
 of enteri)rise and distinction in a time of peace, and he knew 
 no better field for their exertions than explorations in the 
 Arctic regions. Many of our most distinguished officers in 
 the navy had been trained in that school. It was not to be 
 supposed that in the present day, when the interest in geo- 
 graphical, and in all the ])hysical sciences, has so much in- 
 creased, that so hirge a portion of the globe, lying almost at 
 our hands, should remain unexplored." 
 
 At the meeting of the Royal Geographical Society, April 
 10, 1865, the president, Sir Roderick Murchison, said: "I will 
 not deign to contract the feeble and irrelevant argument put 
 forth by timid persons as to the danger to be incurred by 
 polar navigators, for surely the British navy has not come 
 to the condition, that with their present great means and 
 appliances, they cannot emulate and surpass the effijrts of 
 Hudson and our earliest voyagers in their little cock boats. 
 If there were great danger to be encountered in this pro- 
 jected expedition, it would, indeed, be only an additional 
 stimulus to our brave seamen ; Imt, as a niatter of fact, there 
 have been fewer losses of life in the Arctic or Antarctic seas 
 than other quarters of the globe over which sailors are bound 
 to roam." 
 
 [A copy of the above communication was also addressed to Hon. A. A. Sar- 
 gent, Chairman of the Naval Committee of the Senate.] 
 
72 
 
 ACTION OF SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATIONS. 
 
 AMERICAN GEOGllAPniCAL SOCIETY. 
 
 On the evening of January 31, 1878, the American Geo- 
 graphical Society had under consideration the Colonization 
 plan of Arctic exploration, and gjive a reception to the Earl 
 of Dutferin, Governor General of Canada. The following 
 account of the proceedings on the occasion is taken from 
 the New York Trilmne of February 1st : 
 
 Betwf >n live and six hundred persons were present 
 including many ladies. At 8:20 o'clock, Chief .[ustice Daly 
 th( " 
 
 they wore followed nv 
 Taylor, Dr. I. I. Hayes 
 
 appeared on the platform with the Earl of Dufferin, and 
 
 AVilliani Cullen Bryant, Bayard 
 , liieutonant Greeley and Coionel 
 William Ludlow, U. S. A., General George W. Cullum,. 
 Professor T. Sterry Hunt, Albert Bierstadt, Professor W. 
 "Wright Hawker. Walton W. Evans, Francis A. Stout, Colo- 
 nel C. C. Long, Chief .[ustice (Jurtis, Harlow M. Hoyt, Pro- 
 fessor James J. Gardner, Luther R. Marsh, Samuel Sloan 
 and William Remsen. Addresses were made by (Hiief .Jus- 
 tice Dalv, William Cullen Brvant, Bavard Tavlor, the Earl 
 of Dufferin, ]-r. Isaac I. Hayes and Lieutenant Greeley, of 
 the Signal Service, who spoke for Captain Howgate, ir the 
 lattcr's absence. 
 
 Chief Justice Daly stated that the meeting was convened 
 to consider Captain Howgate's plan for the exploration of 
 the Arctic /egions. The}' were honored with the presence 
 of the E^.rl of Dutferin, Governor-General of Canada, him- 
 self r* Arctic explorer, and the author of one of the most 
 Bprignily and pleasant books that has ever been wr'tten on 
 travel in the high latitudes. Chief Justice Daly then pro- 
 ceeded to answer the doubts of tliose whr, '^ould "ot under- 
 stand the value of Arctic exploration, lie said that if noth- 
 ing more was to be accoinplished than the geographical feat 
 of reaching the Pole, it would be very difficult to answer 
 such doubts, but that th-j general atjswer to them was that 
 there is no portion of the earth's surface where observation 
 in respect to scientific matters affecting the whole globe is 
 BO important as in the Polar basin or its vicinity. When 
 Arctic expeditions are talked of for the acquiHiti<in of scien- 
 tific kno'vledge, there are many who want to know in ad- 
 vance what the practical results will be, and who arc apt to 
 exclaim, " Well, what are the uses of it ?" The best answer 
 
r 
 
 73 
 
 to such was that of Dr. Franklin, when he was asked of 
 what value was his discovery that electricity and lightning 
 were the same — "What is the use of a child ? Make it of 
 use." Most of the udvantas^es of our present civ'Iization 
 owe their origin to what in its day was scientific informa- 
 tion, gathered by the close observation and [)aticrit I 'bors of 
 men who could not then have predicted the great results 
 that have followed from their researches. 
 
 Lieutenant (^reeley wan then introduced, and stated that 
 he was present to represent Captain IIi)wgate, who had been 
 unexpectedly detained in Baltimore. He read the paper 
 which Cai)tain Howgate had prepared, and whicli is given 
 in tull in another part of this appendix.] 
 
 MR. Bryant's address. 
 
 Wdliam Cullen B.'vant was tiext introduced, in a pleasant 
 manner, by Judge Daly, and said : 
 
 I take for granted that no ve''y direct commercial advant- 
 ages are expected from exploring the region to the nortVi of 
 that domain over which the lionored guest of the evening 
 exercises the viceregal power, nor that even the enterprise 
 of Dr. Hayes, fertile as he is in expedients anJ hopeful in 
 temperament, is likely t>> find in that quarter a safe and 
 practicable path to the coast of northeastern Asia. But 
 while commerce withdraws from the undertaking, science 
 comes forward and takes upon herself the office of discovery. 
 While one party of explorers are penetrating to the heart 
 of the African continent, and threading the rivers and 
 measuring tlie lakes that stagnate under the ecpiator, we are 
 to send out from this (|uarter a party to the Arctic circle, 
 where human life can exist only through a constant battle 
 with the elements; a party to establis'u an outpost in what 
 we may call the enemy's country, a post of observation 
 from which science may make excursions and gather tacts 
 for future u^e. What we are about to do may be compared 
 with the conduct of one vvJio inhabits a palace, and who, 
 after taking an inventory of the lower rootiis, resolves upon 
 ascending to the attic and seeing how the rooms in that 
 quarter are furnished. 
 
 It is hardly worth whilo to discuss beforehand what will 
 be tV 3 value of the observations about to be made by 
 science in the region of which I speak. Small beginnings in 
 science often lead to great results. IFe who first observed 
 the properties of the loiidstone, who saw it attracting the 
 
 t. 
 
 m 
 
74 
 
 particles of iron from loose sand and clinging to rocks that 
 contained iron ore, could have had no idea of the vast and 
 almost immeasurable advantage which the navigator of the 
 sea would derive from it when it should be applied to his 
 use in the mariner's compass. When the laws of the elec- 
 tric tluid were first investigated, who was there that thought 
 of the wonderful uses to whicli it might be put when tamed 
 and taught to carry messages from pole to pole with the 
 speed of light, and even to repeat the words and musical 
 tones uttered over the wires on which it was rnnniiiff? 
 Who thought that it could be taught to write, or to speak, 
 and sing v * * * 
 
 So will it, perhaps, be with the discoveries made by those 
 who observe the aspects and agencies of Nature within the 
 Arctic circle. The mystery of the nuignetic pole is to be 
 solved. The phenomena of the atmosphere and of light in 
 that region are to be observed and recorded. That beauti- 
 ful meteor called the northc '. lights is to be observed in its 
 birthplace and made to disclose its causes. The individuals 
 of the animal and vegetable kingdom such as exist in the 
 waters or on the coasts of that desolate region are to 1)6 
 made the subjects of familiar observaticMi and every particu- 
 lar relating to them duly recorded. What will be yet done 
 with the facts thus gathered ? Who shall say to what con- 
 clusions they may lead, (»r what secrets of nature they may 
 open up to our view ? It is said that necessity is the mothei" 
 of invention, l)ut quite as true is it that knowledge supplies 
 invention with its materials, and that without knowledge 
 invention only gropes and stumbles in the dark. 
 
 BAYARD Taylor's address. 
 
 At the conclusion of Mr. Bryant's address, Bayand Tay- 
 lor was introduced and spoke as follows : 
 
 Mr. C/i(dr)H(in : I have been reqi !sted to discharge the 
 honorable duty of calling the attention of the members of 
 the Geographical Society to the presence here, this evening, 
 of a gentleman whose distinguished position is not the 
 only starrip of his many abilities. As the executive head 
 of the great Dominion which nobly emulates us in carrying 
 an unbroken belt of civilization from i-'ea to sea, the Earl of 
 Dulierin has a special claim to our welcome. In a political 
 eei 63, we acknowledge him as the best of neighbors; and 
 certainly no one of his predecewsors has ever so frankly' and 
 cordially mingled with us in a social way. On this occa- 
 
io 
 
 •ving 
 
 sion, however, it is proper that I should chiefly dwell upon 
 those quulitios of liis mind, and those features of his expe- 
 rience, which claim recognition from this Society. When 
 we welcomed Dom Pedro IL, a year and a half ago, it was 
 not the monarch alone whom we recsived ; it was also, 
 without doubt, the most energetic and untiring traveler of 
 this or any other age. Lord Duiferin is the only Governor 
 General who has personally visited every settled portion of 
 the Dominion ; and, in order to accomplish this, he has 
 rivaled the Emperor of Brazil in the extent of his Journeys, 
 without going outside of Canadian soil. He has been 
 trained, by his former travels in the far North and the 
 Orient, to appreciate the vast difference between hearsay 
 and personal knowledge — a difl:erence which enters into the 
 secret of successful political rule. The power of ob.serving 
 clearly, correctly and rapidly — I might almost call it the 
 perceptive instinct — is not an ordinary gift; but it is one 
 "wliich Lord Duft'erin possesses in an eminent degree. 
 When I visited Iceland in the Summer of 1874, ni}' iirst 
 impressions of the scenery immediately recalled his descrip- 
 tions to memory. The transi)arency of the atmosphere; the 
 exquisite effects of color; the faint, delicate, and, as he truly 
 says, "gem-like purity" of the nxountain outlines were all 
 there. No previous traveler mentions then — yet they 
 are the leading characteristics of Icelr<nd scenery. There 
 <;ati be no better test of description than the fact that the 
 objects tliemselves suggest the author's words. During the 
 same voyage Lord Duffcrin passed beyond the field of travel, 
 and fairly entered that of exploration. He is the only one 
 present to-night, who hat) seen Spitzbergen and Jan Mayen's 
 Land; in fact, he is one of some half-dozcp living men who 
 have landed on Jan Mayen's Land, and stood on the base of 
 that wonderful jieak, nearly 7,000 feet in height, which 
 feeds the lonely sea froi.i its five broad torrents of descend- 
 ins: ice. It is fitting tluat we should tender to him such 
 appreciation as lies in our power; and I therefore move, 
 Afr. Chairman, that his Excellency, the Karl of Dutferin, 
 Governor General of the Dominion of Canada, l)e elected 
 an honorary member of the American Geogra\)hical Society. 
 
 SPEECH OF LORD DUFFEHIN. 
 
 Lord Dufferin was unamimouslv elected an honorary 
 member of the Society, and when he stepped forward to 
 speak he was heartily applauled. He said : 
 
76 
 
 Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: In risinsr to respond 
 to the very kind observations which have been made in my 
 rei^ard upon this occasion, I confess that my mind is dis- 
 turbed by conflicting considerations. On the one hand I 
 feel that I have not the least professional right or title to 
 intervene in the present occasion. On the other, I should 
 be very sorry if I had not an opportunity of expressing to 
 you how very deeply I feel the kind reception which has 
 been extended to me on the present occasion. It is true 
 some years ago I sailed toward the North and got as near to- 
 the Pole as Washington is to Ottawa, but my voyage was as 
 fruitless as the journey of the Peri to the gates of Paradise,, 
 and it had but one feature in common with more serious ex- 
 plorations, namely, that I had to turn back again. [Laugh- 
 ter.] But neither, indeed, was that journey of any use to- 
 science, nor was it fertile in personal adventures. All that 
 I can claim is that I was able to establish the temperature 
 of the sea in a certain section of the Arctic Ocean which 
 had never been explored by any vessel. 
 
 But at all events there is one capacity in which I feel I 
 have a right to claim admission to these halls, and that is a& 
 a member of the Geographical Society of London. [Ap- 
 plause.] Now we all know that geographers are brothers 
 all the world over. To a geographer these lines of ethno- 
 logical and political demarcation which divides nations d 
 not exist. All countries to him are vdiat Italy was once de- 
 scribed as being — merely geographical expressions. [Laugh- 
 ter.] The only heroes to whom he gives a place upon hi& 
 roll of fame, the only careers which he admits upon his cal-. 
 endar, are those nol)lc spirits who, generation after genera- 
 tion, have braved privation and faced danger and even death 
 in order that they might advance the cause of science, and 
 point the way to tiieir fellow men to tliose secret lands and 
 unknown regions of the earth which God has prepared tV(jm 
 everl-'isting for the habitation and advantage of the human 
 race. 
 
 It is, tlierefore, ladies and gentlemen, as a brother geo- 
 gr;^pher only that I venture to address you, and I can assure 
 you that we in England duly appreciate the eftbrts which 
 have beeen made by this society for the advancement of 
 geographical knowledge. And we mlly comprehend that if 
 in any place on the face of the earth enterprise should be 
 regarded and honored, it is on that continent which owes its 
 discovery and its present glorious condition to the enter- 
 
 «a«««>t!*S»ij»«rr(ira 
 
77 
 
 (U 
 
 is aiul 
 
 (1 from 
 
 lumaii 
 
 er geo- 
 assure 
 which 
 
 nent of 
 
 I that if 
 \M be 
 
 owea its 
 enter- 
 
 prise of the greatest navigator that ever furled a sail or took 
 a bearing. [Applause.] ISTor is it necessary that I should 
 assure you that the names of those navigators whom America 
 has sent forth — the names of Kane and Hayes and Hall — 
 are as familiar and are as completely household names to us 
 as are those of Franklin, McClure and Belcher among you. 
 And I am proud to think that the two great represeutatives 
 of the Anglo-Saxon race have been so intimately associated 
 in a common endeavor both to explore the mysteries of the 
 Arctic Ocean, and, as I may now add, the resources of (Cen- 
 tral Africa. 
 
 But I feel that it is not in that capacity that 1 am really 
 among you to-night. You will all remember that when Co- 
 lumbus, to whom I have referred, returned fr ui his great 
 discovery he brought back with him, in chains, certain of 
 the chiefs of the nations with whom he had come in contact, 
 both as proofs of the truth of his narratives and as specimens 
 of the strange nationalities he had discovered. Our discus- 
 sion to-night has been concerned with those snow covered 
 lauds which lie beneath Arcturus, and are lighted with the 
 radiance of the Aurora, An<l I do believe tliat, if I am })a- 
 ratled before you to-night, it is because my friend, Judge 
 Daly, wished to show to you a potentate whose sceptre 
 .■^ouches the Pole, and who reigns over a larger area of snow 
 tl i;n any other nu)narch of the earth. [Laughter and i"' 
 plause.]- But, ladies and gentlemen, here the com[)arisuu 
 concludes, for you all remember that as soon as these un- 
 fortunate prisoners were brought into the presence of the 
 gentle Queen, Isabella, she coniinanded their fetters to be 
 struck from their limbs; but the fetters with which I am 
 bound here have been forged bv the kindness and hosnitalitv 
 and consideration of the American people wherever I have 
 traveled through the States and I fear that even your impe- 
 rial inandate would fail ever to lose those chaius. 
 
 Dr. I. I. Hayes, the Arctic exploi , said lie had given 
 proof of interest in the meeting by coining from the Arctic 
 region, in other words Albany, to attend i'., but did not wish 
 to be held responsible for tho Arctic storm which he had 
 brought along with him. A large and clearly delined map 
 of tlie x\rctic Zone was suspended ai, the rear of the platform, 
 and Dr. Hayes, taking a pointer, led his auditors on an in- 
 teresting v^oyage to all the points touched by every Arctic 
 •exped'tion since Sir John Franklin's. Dr. Hayes affirmed 
 Lis strengthened belief in the existence (^f an open Polar 
 
 'L^^'ilZjf'^iifiiJd'it^L^ .._ 
 
78 
 
 Sea, and gave his reasons therefor. He explained the idea 
 of a Polar Colory, which Dr. Hayes declared deserving of 
 the support of Congress. 
 
 iMAUYLAND ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 
 
 The following resolutions were unanimously adopted by 
 the Maryland Academy of science on Monday, February 19, 
 1877. 
 
 Whereas, This Academy has for its object the encourage- 
 ment of science, whether abstract or applied ; and 
 
 Whereas, There is now pending before Congress a bill 
 to authorize and equip an expedition to the Arctic seas ; 
 and 
 
 Whereas, This Academy has been informed of the means 
 to be adopted by, and of the results which are expected from 
 the expedition ; 
 
 Therefore be it Resolved, That we cordially approve of the 
 plan proposed, believing, as we do, that it is the one best 
 calculated to lead to sticcessful result, not in abstract scien- 
 titic knowledge alone, but also in such scientific knowledge 
 as will be readily utilized for the benefit of commerce. 
 
 Resolved, That we earnestly and respectfully urge upon 
 Congress tl.e passage of the bill. 
 
 Resolved, That the Secretary be directed to forward a copy 
 of these resolutions to our Senators and Representatives in 
 Congress, and request the careful consideration of the bill. 
 
 franklin institute. 
 
 Hall of the Franklin Institute, 
 
 PiiiLADELPJiTA, February 26th, 1877. 
 
 The following preamble and resolution was adopted at a 
 meeting of the Franklin Institute, held February 21st, 1877: 
 
 Whereas, A bill is at present pending before ''congress 
 asking aid for carrying into execution the Rcheme of C'ajit. 
 li. W. llowgate, of the Signal Service, for reaching and ex- 
 ploring the region about tlij K'orth Pole on the plan of col- 
 onization, 
 
 Resolved, That the Franklin Institute approve of this 
 
79 
 
 plan, not only for its economy, but for its efficient practi- 
 cability, and believe it to be the most feasible plan yet 
 offered. 
 
 J. D, Knight, Secretary. 
 
 On motion, the Secretary was directed to transmit a copy 
 of the above preamble and resolution to Congress. 
 
 [Presented in Senate March 2, 1877, and referred to Committee on Military 
 Aflairs.] 
 
 CINCINNATI SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 To the Senators and Members of the Forty-fourth Con- 
 gress : 
 
 Tlie Cincinnati Society of Natural History respectfully 
 represents to the honorable Senators and Members of the 
 Forty-fourth Congress the importance of further and more 
 successful Arctic exploration. In all the various branches 
 of science are found important problems which can be 
 definitely settled in the Polar regions only. The geog- 
 raphy of that region is undecided. Hydrography and 
 meteorology, two branches of science in which the United 
 States are already pre-eminent, and a more complete and 
 thorough knowledge of which is imperatively demanded by 
 the ever enlarging interests of science, and of comm<!rce, 
 can nowhere be detinitely settled but in the Arctic Zone. 
 The laws of gravity are still uncertain, and can be decided 
 only in the vicinity of the North Pole. Mineralogy, geology 
 and all the branches of natural history still largely depend 
 upon a thorough exploration of the Polar regions. 
 
 This 801 ty, therefore, in the interest of science, and for 
 the honor ^' our country, respectfully reeonmiends th\'or- 
 able legisla )n on the subject of Polar c.\i)lorati(.n ; and 
 convinced that colonizativ ii is tlie nu)8t practicable way of 
 conducting an expedition of this nature, recommends the 
 passage of the bill to authorize and equip an expedition to 
 the Arctic seas, now in the hands of the Committee on 
 Naval Affairs. 
 
 The above memorial was unanimously adopted at a full 
 meeting of the Cincinnati Society of Natural History, held 
 Tuesday evening, February 6, 1877. 
 
 J. F. Judge, 
 Recording Secretary. 
 
 [Presented in House of Representatives February 10, 1877, and referred 
 to Committee on Naval Affairs.] 
 
 
 -. -,:"-prs«-iS2£a.SE2 
 
80 
 
 FORTNIGHTLY CLUB OP MILWAUKEE. 
 
 Whereas, A bill has beeji introduced into Congress ap- 
 propriating funds to aid and maintain a scientific expedition 
 iu the northern Polar regions; and 
 
 Whereas, The plan which is proposed to carry into ett'ect 
 in such expedition, namely, that of estahlisliing a tem[)0- 
 rary colony consisting of a few tried and experienced men 
 who })088e88 all the necessary requisites to insure success of 
 such expedition, seems to us the one most feasible after 
 due consideration of the history of former expeditions 
 which have been dispatched by the Government of the 
 United States ; therefore, be it 
 
 Resolved, That we respectfully request the earnest atten- 
 tion and support by our Senators and Representatives in 
 Congress of the i)lan of Captain H. W. Howgate, of the 
 United States Sigiuil Service, as one wliich is in our judg- 
 ment woi'thy of a trial and support by the Government. 
 
 Resolced, "That the Secretary of the Fortnightly Club be 
 instructed to forward to our Senators and Representatives a 
 copy of the foregoing preamble and resolutions. 
 
 The above preamble and resolutions were presented at a 
 meeting of tlu; Fortnightly Club, of Mihvaukee, Wisconsin, 
 Januai'y 20, 1877, and unanimously passed. 
 
 William W. Wkiht, 
 
 Secretary FortnUjhtly Club. 
 
 ACTION OF COMMERCIAL ASSOCIATIONS. 
 
 [Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce. 1 
 
 Chamber of Commerce, Milwaukee, January 13, 1877. 
 
 Whereas, This Chamber is desirous of expressing its iji- 
 terests in and good will toward all n.casures calculated to 
 forward and extend scientifi explorations and experiments 
 which may have even an i' Lrect bearing upon such subject; 
 therefore, be it 
 
 Resolved, That we cordially approve of the proposed 
 appropriation of $50,000 by the General Government to aid 
 in the establishment of a temporary colony, for tlie purpose 
 of exploration and scientific research, at or near the eighty- 
 
r 
 
 8 ap- 
 iition 
 
 ettect 
 
 irn\)0- 
 
 mon 
 
 688 of 
 
 after 
 iition8 
 )f the 
 
 atten- 
 vea in 
 of t\ie 
 • jwdg- 
 ut. 
 
 Mul) V)e 
 itives a 
 
 ted at a 
 iconsiu, 
 
 Club. 
 
 NS. 
 
 1877. 
 
 ^ its iii- 
 
 lated to 
 
 eriments 
 
 subject; 
 
 proposed 
 lit to aid 
 purpose 
 ■ eighty- 
 
 Si 
 
 first degree of north hititude, under the direction of tlie 
 President of tlie United States, and with tlie ulvice and 
 counsel of the National Academy of Science, to carry into 
 effect such detailed ohservations in tlie sciences of meteor- 
 ology, botany, geology, and climatology, together with the 
 perfecting of the geography of unknown regions extending 
 to the l^orth Pole, as may increase the sum of human 
 knowledge, redound to the credit of the United States and 
 sustain the reputation and honor of our country already 
 won through the labors of De Haven, Kane, Hayes, Hall, 
 and other eminent explorers in the northern Polar seas. 
 
 Resolved^ That the Secretary be instructed to transmit to 
 our Senators and Representatives in Congress a copy of the 
 foregoing preamble and resolutions, and to respectfully re- 
 quest their careful consideration of the same. 
 
 The foregoing preamble and resolutions were introduced 
 at a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce of iMihvaukee, 
 January 13, 1877, and unanimously adopted. 
 
 [seal.] N. Vankirk, President. 
 
 W. J. Langson, Seeretary. 
 
 [Presented in House of Representatives January 20, 1877, and referred to 
 €oinmiitee ou Appropriations. 
 
 Presented in Senate January 26, 1877, and referred to f'ommittee on Ap- 
 propriations.] 
 
 [Indianapolis Board of Trade.] 
 
 Board of Trade, Indianapolis, Jammry 23, 1877. 
 
 Whereas^ There is now pending before Congress a bill in- 
 troduced by General Hunter, of Indiana, appropriating the 
 sum of $50,000 to aid in the establishment of a temporary 
 colony for the purpose of exploration and scientific research 
 at some point near the eighty-first degree of north latitude, 
 under the direction of the President of the United States, 
 and to carry into effect such detailed observations in the 
 sciences, togtjther with the perfecting of the geography of 
 unknown regions extending to the North Pole as may in- 
 crease the sum of human knowledge and redound to the 
 honor of our country; therefore, 1 e it 
 
 Resolved, That this Board of Trade favors the passage of 
 the bill, and that the Secretary transmit to our Senators and 
 Representatives in Congress a copy of these proceedings. 
 
 6 
 
 I 
 
 n\ 
 
 i.--i! 
 
82 
 
 [Detroit Board of Trade.] 
 
 Board of Trade Rooms, 
 Detroit, M icii., February 2, 1877. 
 
 Whereas, This Board is (lesirouH ()t'oxj)ressiii<!; its interest 
 in unci good will toward all moasurus calculated to forward 
 and extend scientific explorations and cxjierinients which 
 may have even an indirect hearing upon coniinerce and 
 navigation; therefore, he it 
 
 Mesolved, That we cordially approve of the proposed ap- 
 propriation of 1^50,000 hy the General Government to aid in 
 the estal)lishnient of a temporary colony for the purpose of 
 exploration and scientific research at or near the eighty-first 
 degree of nortli latitude, under the direction of the Presi- 
 dent of the United States, and with the ailvice and consent 
 of the National Academy of Science, to carry into effect such 
 detailed observations in the science of meteorology, botany, 
 geology and climatology, together with the [)erfecting of tho 
 geography of unknown regions extending to the North Pole, 
 as may increase the sum of human knowledge, redound to 
 the credit of the United States, and sustain the reputation 
 and honor of our country already won through the labors 
 of DeHaven, Kane, Hayes, Ilall and other eminent explor- 
 ers in the Northern Polar seas. 
 
 Bcsobed, That the Secretary be instructed to transmit to 
 our Senators and Representatives in Congress a copy of the 
 foregoing preamble and resolution, and to respectfully re- 
 quest their careful consideration of the same. 
 
 [Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce.] 
 
 Cincinnati, Febnurry 2, 1877. 
 
 To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives 
 of the United States in Congress assembled : 
 
 Whereas^ The Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, whose 
 province relates specially to commerce and tratle. is assured 
 that the security and extension of the commerce of the world 
 depends largely upon accurate information respecting the 
 physics of tlie globe, and that most of such information 
 already acquired has been facilitated by observations made 
 within the Arctic regions, and that the benefits accruing, 
 directly and indirectly, to the commerce of the world from 
 
 
 ^%£ 
 
88 
 
 Polar explorations arc more than equal to the money cx- 
 peiulod in such explonitionH ; therefore, be it 
 
 Jiesolvi'd, That wo, in the interest of science, as well as in 
 behulf of connnerce and trade, nuitually and insepurably 
 linked together, heartily approve and respectfully urge the 
 passage of the bill providing for another and eminently prac- 
 ticable expedition toward the North Pole for the purpose of 
 exploration and the establishment of a colony at some point 
 north of the Sl*^ of north latitude. 
 
 liesolved^ That wo heartily approve an appropriation of 
 $60,000 by the General Government for this purpose. 
 
 Jiesolredy That a copy of the foregoing preamble and reso- 
 lutions be transmitted to our Senators and Representatives 
 in Congress. 
 
 B. E«GLESTON, President 
 Bkent Arnold, iSecretari/. 
 
 [Presented in Senate February ti, 1877, imd referred to Committee on Ap- 
 proprirttious. 
 
 Presented in House of lleprosentatives February G, 1877, and referred to 
 Committee on Naval Affairs.] 
 
 whose 
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 |e world 
 tug tlie 
 j-ination 
 [lis made 
 3cruing, 
 •Id from 
 
 [St. Louis Totton Exchange.] 
 
 St. Louis, February 5, 1877. 
 
 Whereas, There is now pending before Congress a bill in- 
 troduced by General Hunter, of Indiana, appropriating the 
 sum of $50,000 to aid in the establishment of a temporra'v 
 colony for the purpose of exploration and scientific researcn 
 at some point near the 81° of north latitude, under the di- 
 rection of the President of the United States, and to carry 
 into effect such detailed observp.tions in the sciences as may 
 increase the sum of human knowledge and redound to the 
 honor of our country ; therefore, be it 
 
 Resolved, That this Cotton Exchange favors the passage 
 of the bill, and that the Secretary transmit to our Senators 
 and Representatives in Congress a copy of these proceedings. 
 
 [Baltimore Corn and Flour Exchange.] 
 
 To the Honorable Senators and House of Representatives 
 of the United States in Congress assembled : 
 
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 Whereas, It appears that an expedition to the Arctic re- 
 
 fioiis is proposed upon a plan which seems to promise a fair 
 ope of a successful issue, at a cost quite out of proportion 
 to the value of the least probable result; and 
 
 Whereas, It is desirable that no efforts should be spared 
 to determine questions in connection with the physical con- 
 dition of the earth in the interests of commerce, agriculture 
 and science ; therefore, be it 
 
 Resolved, That we, the undersigned, members of the Bal- 
 timore Corn and Flour Exchange, heartily approve of the 
 scheme initiated by Captain II. W. Howgate, now pending 
 before Congress, and respectfully suggest that the bill now 
 pending be passed with the appropriation of $50,000 to 
 defray the cost of the expedition. 
 
 Thos. W. Leving k Sons, 
 Barker & Gwatiimey, 
 Saml. Townsend & Son, 
 
 E. D. BiQELOW & Co., 
 
 And others. 
 
 [Presented in House of Representatives February 1, 1877, and referred to 
 Committee ou Naval Affairs.] 
 
 [Baltimore Merohants' Exchanga.] 
 
 To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives 
 of the United States in Congress assembled : 
 
 Whereas, It appears that an expedition to the Arctic 
 regions is proposed upon a plan which seems to promise 
 a fair hope of a successful issue, at a cost quite out of pro- 
 portion to the value of the least probable result; 
 
 And whereas, It is desirable that no ettbrts should be 
 spared to determine questions in connection with the physi- 
 cal condition of the earth in the interest of commerce, 
 agriculture, and science ; therefore. 
 
 Be it resolved, That we, the members of the Baltimore 
 Merchants' Exchange, heartily approve of the scheme in- 
 dicted by Captain H. W. Howgate, now before Congress, 
 and respectfully suggest that the bill now pending be 
 passed, with the appropriation of $50,000 to defray the cost 
 of the expedition. 
 Baltimore, February 7, 1877. 
 
 Jas. Carey Coai.e, 
 Jambs Brickhead, 
 H. 0. Haughton. 
 And others. 
 
85 
 
 ic re- 
 afair 
 )rtion 
 
 spared 
 il cou- 
 ulture 
 
 le Bal- 
 of the 
 ending 
 ill now 
 ,000 to 
 
 )ONS, 
 
 ithers. 
 referretl to 
 
 entatives 
 
 e Arctic 
 
 promise 
 
 it of pro- 
 
 lould be 
 
 ;he pbysi- 
 
 mmerce, 
 
 Balti'.nore 
 heme in- 
 Congress, 
 nding be 
 ,y the cost 
 
 CoAi.B, 
 
 3KHEAD, 
 GHTON. 
 
 1 others. 
 
 [Presented in House of Representatives February 1, 1877, and referred to 
 CommiUee on Naval Affairs.] 
 
 [New Haven Chamber of Commerce.] 
 
 New Haven, February 9, 1877. 
 
 Whereas, The New Haven Chamber of Commerce, in com- 
 mon with so many similar boards in the United States, feel- 
 ing a deep interest in the Polar explorations already made 
 by our own countrymen, as also by those of other nations, 
 believe that the plan of Captain Howgate for the locating of 
 a colony far northward in tVie Arctic regions is the most 
 feasible of any heretofore projected for the successful ex- 
 ploration of these regions and for the discovery of the 
 North Pole, so long the ambition of so many expeditions; 
 therefore. 
 
 Resolved, That this Chamber heartily approve of Cap- 
 tain Howgate's plan, and, therefore, of the proposed appro- 
 priation of $50,000 by the General Government in aid of the 
 expedition. 
 
 Resolved, That the President and Secretary be instructed 
 to transmit a copy of the foregoing preamble and resolution 
 to our Senators and Representatives in Congress. 
 
 [Presented in Senate February 13, 1877, and referred to Committee on 
 Commerce.] 
 
 [New York Merchants.] 
 
 New York, February 17, 1877. 
 
 To the Honorable Senators and Representatives in Con- 
 gress assembled : 
 
 The undersigned, feeling a deep interest in the Polar 
 Explorations already made by our own countrymen, as also 
 by those of other nations, believe that the plan of Captain 
 Howgate for the locating of a colony, far northward in the 
 Arctic regions, is the most feasible of any heretofore pro- 
 jected for the successful explorations of these regions and 
 for the discovery of the North Pole, do approve of the bill 
 now pending before Congress appropriating $50,000 for the 
 establishment of the colony, and respectfully urge the pas- 
 sage of the bill. 
 
 ;< 
 
 't 
 
86 
 
 John H. Boynton, Boyd & Hincken, James W. El well & 
 •Co.,Benj. F. Metcalf, John Zittlosen, James E. Ward & Co., 
 Gerhard & Brewer, Benham & Boysen, John Norton, Jr., & 
 Son, John D. Jones, J. P. Paulison, Thomas Hale, Arthur 
 Leary, Ellwood "Walter, Alfred Ogden, Ferdinand Stagg, 
 Daniel Drake Smith, A. A, Low & Bros., Charles H. Mar- 
 shall & Co., Grinnell, Minturn & Co., Nath. L. & Geo. 
 Griswold, Thomas Dunham's Nephew & Co., Snow & Bur- 
 gess, Thomas J. Owen & Son, Howland & Aspinwall, Law- 
 rence, Giles & Co., R. W. Cameron & Co., George Wilson, 
 C. H. Mallory & Co., Youngs, Smith & Co., Jonas Smith & 
 Co., Johnson & Higgins, John D. Fish & Co., J. IL Win- 
 chester & Co., Lunt Brothers, Salter & Livermore, Floyd & 
 Newins, Geo. W. Rosevelt, J. F. Ames, Wm. B. Hilton, 
 Wm. A. Freeborn & Co., Smith W. Anderson, Bucknam & 
 Co., John C. Smith, Perry Chubb, E. Sanchez y Dolz, Geo. 
 W. Brown, Stephen H. Mills, F. Wight & Co., Baxter & 
 McVoy, Philip J. Kiernan, Wm. B. Smyth, Fred. C. Schmidt, 
 Thomas Norton & Co., A. K. Hadley, Theodore G. Caje, 
 Wm. L. Snyder, D. A. Hulett, Miles Beach, Robert Lyon, 
 Jr., Edward T. Bartlett, J. W. Huntley, Francis H. Smith, 
 Potter & Robertson, George W. Dow, L. H. Rogers & Co., 
 Theodore Weston, Alfred Wagstaii", Jr., Abram C. Wood, 
 John D. Vermeule, Henry Hentz & Co., Robert Dillon, J. 
 Yeoman, Calvocoressi & Rodocanachi, James F. Wenman & 
 Co., E. K. Powers, James S. Dean, Andrew G. Myers, J. D. 
 Blanchard, J. H. Cheever, J. F. Fiske, Burkhalter, Masten 
 & Co., W. H. Stanford, H. A. Howe, Wm. R. Crowell, B. F. 
 Walcott, Levi P. Morton, and many others. 
 
 [Presented in Senate February 23, 1877.] 
 
 [Philadelphia Board of Trade.] 
 
 To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representa- 
 tives of the United States the following memorial respect- 
 fully showeth: 
 
 That at a meeting of the Philadelphia Board of Trade, on 
 February 19th, 1877, it was 
 
 Resolved^ That the project for the establishment, under 
 the authority of the President of the United States, of a 
 temporary colony for the purposes. of scientiiic exploration, 
 at some point north of the eighty-first degree of north lati- 
 
87 
 
 tude, meets with the approval of the Jioard ; and that the 
 sum of ^50,000 asked of Congress for the execution of this 
 design will be well repaid by an increase of scientific knowl- 
 edge that will materially promote the welfare of mankind 
 and the honor of our country. 
 
 The Philadelphia Board of trade respectfully solicits your 
 favorable consideration of the above, and will ever pray, &c. 
 
 [Presented in Senate February 23, 1877, and referred to Committee on 
 Naval Aft'airs.] 
 
 [Presented in House of Representatives February 24, 1877, and referred to 
 Committee on Foreign Affairs.] 
 
 [Nashville Cotton Exchange.] 
 
 Nashmllb Cotton Exchange, i^t^irwarj/ 23, 1877. 
 
 Whereas, There is now pending before Congress a bill 
 appropriating the sum of $50,000 to aid in the establish- 
 ment of a colony in the Arctic regions for the purpose of 
 scientific research and exploration; and 
 
 Whereas, This Cotton Exchange, in common with similar 
 organizations throughout the country, and feeling that com- 
 merce and trade march hand in hand with science, and that 
 such exploration and research would increase the sum of 
 human knowledge and redound to the nation's honor; there- 
 fore, be it 
 
 Resolved, That this Cotton Exchange favors the passage 
 by Congress of this bill, and that the Secretary transmit to 
 our Senators and Representatives in Congress a copy of 
 these proceedings. 
 
 [Cleveland Board of Trade.] 
 
 Board of Trade Room, Cltjiveland, Ohio, 
 
 February 23, 1877. 
 Whereas, There is now pending before Congress a bill in- 
 troduced by Gen. Hunter, of Indiana, appropriating the sum 
 of 150,000 to aid in the establishment of a temporary colony 
 for the purpose of exploration and scientific research at some 
 point near the 81st degree of north latitude under the direc- 
 tion of the President of the United States, and to carry into 
 effect such detailed observations in the sciences, together 
 
 ■-■|-".v 
 
 i 
 
^^m» 
 
 88 
 
 with the perfecting of the geography of unknown regions 
 extending to the North Pole, as may increase the sum of 
 human knowledge and redound to the honor of our country; 
 therefore, be it 
 
 Resolved, That the Cleveland Board of Trade cordially 
 favors the proposition and appropriation, and urges the pas- 
 sage of the bill, and that the Secretary be directed to send- 
 a copy of these proceedings to our Senators and Representa- 
 tives in Congress. 
 
 [Boston Merchants.] 
 
 Boston, Mass., February 23, 1877. 
 
 To the Honorable Senators and Representatives in Con- 
 gress assembled: 
 
 The undersigned, feeling a deep interest in the polar ex- 
 plorations already made by our own countrymen, as also by 
 those of other nations, believe that the plan of Captain 
 Howgate for the locating of a colony far northward in the 
 Arctic regions is the most feasible of any heretofore pro- 
 jected for the successful explorations of these regions and 
 for the discovery of the North Pole, do approve of the bill 
 now pending before Congress appropriating $50,000 for the 
 establishment of the colony, and respectfully urge the pass- 
 age of the bill. 
 
 Alex. H. Rice, Gov, of Mass., Fred. 0. Prince, Mayor of 
 Boston, Jas. A. Dupee, Fred. Amory, Thomas Lamb, J. W. 
 Brooks, Daniel Doherty, Addison, Gage & Co., Thaxter & 
 Sons, Benj. F. Tyler, W. "W. Russell, Jacob Hittinger, 
 Jacob A. Seitz, Dr. C. C. Folsom, Dr. Samuel H. Dargin, 
 and many others. 
 
 [Wilmington Merchants.] 
 
 Wilmington, February 26, 1877. 
 
 To the Honorable Senators and Representatives in Con- 
 gress assembled : 
 
 The undersigned, feeling a deep interest in the Polar ex- 
 peditious already made by our own countrymen, as also 
 
89 
 
 those of other nations, believe that the plan of Captain How- 
 gate for the h)cation of a colony far northward in the Arctic 
 regions is the most feasible of any heretofore projected for 
 the exp)loration of those regions, and for the discovery of the 
 North Pole, do approve of the bill now pending before Con- 
 gress, appropriating $50,000 for the establishment of the 
 colony, and respectfully urge the passage of the bill. 
 
 De Rossct & Co., Alex. Sprunt & Son, Harriss & Howell, 
 R. E. Heide, Edw. Kidder & Sons, B. F. Mitchell & Son, 
 Lemmerman <fe Coney, Cassidey & Ross, T. C. De Rosset, 
 Adrian & Vollors, Wright & Stedman, T. B. Kingsbury, B. 
 
 B. Moore, (Hist. Soc'y,) Jno. L. Boatwright, J. J. Conoley, 
 
 C. H. Robinson, Vick & Mebane, E. Peschau & Westerman, 
 Kerchner & Calder Bros., John. S. Cantwell, Donald MacRae, 
 H. B. Eilers, Hall & Pearson, C. W. Harriss, Ed. Journal, Sol. 
 Bear & Bros., H. Nutt, Williams & Murchison, John Wilder 
 Atkinson, H. Q. Johnson, I. B. Grainger, Jos. T. Jamer, 
 J. K. Brown, James & Brown, A. P]mpie, C. D. Myers & 
 Co., Wm. J. Biihman, P. Heinsberger, Geo. G. Barker & 
 Co., G. D. Bernheira, Prest. Hist, and Scientific Society. 
 
 [Presented in House of Representatives February 27, 1877, and referred to 
 Committee on Naval Affairs.] 
 
 ;on- 
 
 ex- 
 also 
 
 Nashville, Tenn., February 27, 1877. 
 
 To the Honorable Senators and Representatives in Con- 
 gress assembled ; 
 
 The undersigned, feeling a deep interest in the Polar ex- 
 plorations already made by our own countrymen, as also by 
 those of other nations, believe that the plan of Captain 
 Howgate for the locating a colony far northward in the 
 Arctic regions is the most feasible of any heretofore pro- 
 jected for the successful explorations of these regions, and 
 for the discovery of the North Pole, do approve of the bill 
 now pending before Congress appropriating $50,000 for the 
 establishment of the colony, and respectfully urge the pass- 
 age of the bill. James D. Porter, Governor of Tennessee; 
 James M. Sattbrd, J. D. Plunkett, M. D., J. B. Lindsley, 
 M. D., E. D. Hicks, M. Burns, J. B. Nowlin, M. D., D. R. 
 Johnson, John Lunsden, Jos. Fisher, and many others. 
 
 [Presented in Senate March 14, 1877.] 
 
90 
 
 [Merchants' Exchange, Baltimore.] 
 
 The Merchants' Exchanga, of Baltimore City, fully alive to 
 the advantages to be derived from the development of Cap- 
 tain Hovvgate's scheme, for a further attempt to discover or, 
 if unsuccessful, to at least familiarize the world with the cir- 
 cumstances and surroundings of the North Pole, fully en- 
 dorse his plans known as the " Colonization Scheme," and 
 heartily approve the adoption of General Hunter's bill, ap- 
 propriating the sum of |50,000 in aid of the expedition. 
 
 Baltimore, I7lh April, 1877. 
 
 Jas. Carey Coale, President, 
 H. 0. Haughton, Secretary. 
 
 ENDORSEMENTS OF THE PLAN OF POLAR 
 COLONIZATION. 
 
 The following selections are made from the numerous 
 communications received favoring the Polar Colonization 
 plan in its essential features, to show the general feeling of 
 interest in the subject among explorers and men of science. 
 
 In one particular I dissent from the views of several of 
 the gentlemen whose communications are herewith pre- 
 sented, viz. : the retention of a vessel at the proposed colony, 
 which, in ray opinion, would be unwise and fatal to the suc- 
 cess of the expedition. 
 
 [From the President of the American Geographical Society.] 
 
 American Geographical Society, 
 
 No. 11 W. 29th St., New \ork City, 
 
 January 18, 1877. 
 Captain H. W. Howgate: 
 
 My Dear Sir: Before your letter was received I inserted 
 in my annual address a notice of your plan, and of the bill 
 before Congress. 
 
91 
 
 As you will find by ray address, your mode of exploration 
 is the one that I have uniformly approved and recommended 
 for many years, I expressed this opinion in my address oi 
 1869, and in the first of my addresses, which have been 
 printed, (1870,) I declared my conviction that a passage to 
 the Pole by water would, in all probability, not be found, 
 and that the true method of exploration was by sledge 
 operations upon land from the furthest point that could be 
 safely reached by a vessel. 
 
 You will see from this that I have long been impressed 
 with your general plan, and the only critisism I have to oft'er 
 is that I think the station should not be limited to some 
 point north of 81°; for though a vessel may winte*" securely 
 m Discovery Bay, and although there is a fine seam of 
 bituminous coal three miles from where the Discovery win- 
 tered, yet the region, as shown by the experience of the 
 English expedition, and by the abandonment of the Esqui- 
 maux settlements just below it, is very barren of animal life 
 either upon the land or upon the water, whilst at Fort Foulke 
 it is otherwise, and a temporary colony could be maintained 
 there without any ditficulty. For this reason I think it 
 would have been better to have said north of 78°. 
 
 It will afibrd me great pleasure to do all that I can to for- 
 ward 3'our views, and anything that the Society can do I 
 am sure will be done. 
 
 The suggestion I have made as to the limitation in the 
 bill as to location of colony is entirely for your considera- 
 tion, and will in no way affect our hearty support of the 
 measure. 
 
 ♦ * * 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 Chas. p. Daly. 
 
 [From Professor Elias Loomis, of Yale College.] 
 
 Yale College, January 14, 1877. 
 Captain H. W. Howgate: 
 
 Dear Sir: I have received your letter o? January 7th, 
 together with a copy of a bill to be presented to Congress, 
 asking for an appropriation to defray the expense of another 
 
92 
 
 expedition towards the North Pole. I have for many year? 
 taken a deep interest in I'olar expeditions, and sre no reason 
 for abandoning further effort because former expeditions 
 have not accomplished all that was expected. It we review 
 the entire history of Polar expeditions since Captain Parry's 
 first voyage, more than half a century ago, we find that every 
 expedition has proved in some sense a failure; that is, has 
 accomplished less than was anticipated; and some may, 
 therefore, conclude that all the labor which has l>ee!i ex- 
 pended on this Polar problem has been wasted. I take a 
 very different view of the subject, and consider what the re- 
 sults of the many Polar expeditions, from the first voyage 
 of Captain Parry to tlie present time, are worth far more 
 than all the money and labor which have been expended 
 on them. 
 
 In order to estimate the value of the results of these expe- 
 ditions we should cc»nsider what would have been the state 
 of our knowledge of the physics of the globe if no such expe- 
 ditions had been undertaken. There is scarcely a problem 
 relating to the physics of the globe which can be fully 
 understood without a knowledge of the phenomena within 
 the Polar regions. Whatever phenomena we may wish to 
 investigate, it is of special importance to determine its maxi- 
 mum and minimum values, and in nearly all questions of 
 ' jrrestrial physics one or other of these values is found in the 
 neighborhood of the Pole. If, for example, we wish to de- 
 termine the distribution of temperature upon the surface of 
 the globe, it is specially important to determine the extremes 
 of temperature, one of which is to be found near the Equator 
 and the other near the Poles. If we wish to investigate the 
 system of circulation of the winds, our investigation would 
 be sadly deficient without a knowledge of the phenomena 
 in the Polar regions. 
 
 If we wish to study the fluctuations in the pressure of the 
 atmosphere, whether periodical or accidental, we cannot be 
 sure that we understand the phenomena in the middle lati- 
 tudes unless we know what t'dces place in the Polar regions. 
 If we wish to investigate the currents of the ocean, we find 
 indications of currents coming from the Polar regions, and 
 it is important to be able to trace these currents to their 
 source. If we wish to investigate the laws of the tides, we 
 need observations from every ocean; and observations in the 
 Arctic regions have a special value on account of their dis- 
 tance from the- place where the daily tidal wave takes its 
 
93 
 
 I the 
 \ot be 
 
 lati- 
 ions. 
 
 iiud 
 , and 
 ) their 
 es, we 
 in the 
 ir (lis- 
 ces its 
 
 origin. If wo wish to stndy the phenomena of atmospheric 
 electricity and of auroral exhibitioiiH, no part of the world 
 is more important than the Polar regions. If we wish to 
 study the phenomena of terrestrial magnetism, observations 
 in the Polar regions have a special value, since it is here the 
 dipping needle assumes a vertical position and the intensity 
 of the earth's magnetism is the greatest. If we wish to de- 
 termine the dimensions and figures of the earth, we require 
 to know the length of a degree of latitude where it is greatest 
 and also where it is least. If we wish to determine how the 
 force of gravity varies in different parts of the world, we 
 reijuire observations of the second's pendulum both where 
 it \t^ greatest and wiiere it is least. Jn short, there is no 
 problem connected with the j)hysics of the globe which does 
 not demand observations from the Polar regions, and gener- 
 ally the I'oles and the Equator are more im])ortant as stat s 
 of observation than any other portions • f the earth's sur- 
 face. If the information which has been acquired upon the 
 various subjects in the numerous Pcdar expeditions of the 
 last half century were annihilated, it would leave ai immense 
 chasm which would greatly impair the value of the researches 
 which have been made in other parts of the world. 
 
 The subjects to which I have here referred are scientilic 
 rather than commercial; but many of them have an im- 
 portant bearing upon questions which affect the commerce 
 of the globe. In the attempts which are now being made 
 by the joint efforts of the principal nations of the globe to 
 determine the laws of storms, if we could have daily obser- 
 vations from a group of stations within the Arctic circle, it 
 is believed that they would prove of the highest value in 
 enabling us to explain the phenomena of the middle lati- 
 tudes. Every winter upon the eastern side of the Rocky 
 Mountains we find an intensely cold wave moving down 
 from the northward and spreading over a large portion of 
 the United States. How can we fully understand the cause 
 of the great changes of temperature which so frequently 
 occur during the winter months unless we know where this 
 cold air comes from? And how can this be determined 
 without fixed stations of observation extending nortliward 
 over the Polar regions? 
 
 The vast extension of the commerce of the world in recent 
 times and its increased security are due in no small degree 
 to more accurate information respecting the physics of the 
 globe, including such subjects as the mean direction and 
 
94 
 
 force of the prevailing winds; the laws of storms; the use 
 of the barometer in giving warning of approaching violent 
 winds; the surest mode of escaping the violence of a storm 
 when overtaken by a gale; the most advantageous route 
 from one part to another; the direction and velocity of the 
 current in every ocean ; the variation of the magnetic needle 
 in all latitudes, and its changes from year to year ; together 
 with many other problems; and most of these investigations 
 have been greatly facilitated by observations whicl) have 
 been made within the Arctic regions. I do not regard it as 
 any exaggeration to claim that the benefits which have re- 
 sulted both directly and indirectly to the commerce of the 
 world in consequence of Polar expeditions are more than 
 equal to all the money which has been expended on these 
 enterprises. 
 
 Is any additional advantage to the commerce of the world 
 to be anticipated from further explorations in the Polar 
 regions? Undoubtedly. Precisely what these advantages 
 may prove to be we cannot certainly pronounce beforehand; 
 but upon most of the questions to which I have already 
 alluded more minute information is needed. The denuinds 
 of science are by no means satisfied, and we may confi- 
 dently anticipate that any advance in our scientific know- 
 ledge respecting questions connected with the physics of the 
 globe will impart increased security to commerce. If a 
 steamer starting from New York and traveling northward 
 could pass directly over the North Pole through Behring 
 Straits into the Pacific Ocean it would be a triumph of geo- 
 graphical science equal to the first discovery of America. 
 Whether such a result will ever be witnessed we cannot 
 safely predict; but past explorations have not shown that 
 such an achievement is impossible. I hope we shall not rest 
 contented while so much that is clearly feasible remains to 
 be done, and until the northern boundary of Greenla" 1 has 
 been traced. 
 
 Hoping that your efforts to secure assistance in the further 
 prosecution of this Polar problem may prove successful, 
 I am, with much respect, yours truly, 
 
 Elias Loomis. 
 
96 
 
 f the 
 If a 
 ward 
 iring 
 geo- 
 'vica. 
 niiot 
 that 
 It rest 
 Ins to 
 11 has 
 
 i-ther 
 
 IIS. 
 
 [From Superintendent G. H. Haskins, of the Norluwestern Telegraph 
 
 Company.] 
 
 General Superintendent's Office, 
 
 Milwaukee, Wis., Janiuiry 24, 1877. 
 
 Captain H. W. Ilowgate : 
 
 Dear Sir : Yours of 21at received. To work a naked wire 
 through or on the snow it is only necessary to observe one 
 or two points. 
 
 Ist. The snow must be absolutely dry. This condition 
 you would probably have in the Polar regions nearly all 
 winter. 
 
 2d. Reduce the tension of your battery to the lowest pos- 
 sible point. To do this use a good conductor and instru- 
 ments of as low resistance as practicable for the circuit and 
 few cells of battery. 
 
 I really think that for your expedition, if you intend to 
 establish stations 40 or 50, or even 100 miles apart, that a 
 form of magneto nuichine, if made sufficiently light to be 
 portable and with coarse helices, to give you a quantity cur- 
 rent, would be the thing for you, thus ridding you of the 
 nuisance of battery and battery material, freezing, »fcc. In 
 this case you would use polarized relays, as more sensitive. 
 Your great trouble will be, not escapes from grounds, but 
 any good ground at ail for your lines. In this case your 
 only remedy would be a metallic circuit, which would re- 
 quire two wires, which would get together and bother you. 
 
 With dry snow there is absolutely no escape. The insula- 
 tion is as perfect as can be. I told you I had worked over 
 one hundred miles with the line under the snow and on it. 
 
 Don't misunderstand me. I do not mean the entire \v'ire 
 was covered, but it was blown down in places, sometimes 
 on the snow, again in it, and it worked uninterruptedly un- 
 til the thaN7 grounded it. The fact of perfect insulation 
 may be tested at any time with the thermometer at zero. 
 Ground one end of a large battery, lead the other end 
 through a delicate galvanometer and then to snow on the 
 ground. You can't get any deflection, except such as re- 
 sults iromjilling the wire. There will be no escape. 
 
 The line from Marquette to Sault Ste. Marie, Lake Su- 
 perior, runs along the coast, over hills and through valleys 
 in the forest. During summer, when the leaves are out, 
 the line leaks badly from contact with the green leaves and 
 shoots. It is always leaky. In the winter it is blown 
 
 .■lij 
 
 .11' 
 
 
 
96 
 
 down, and, in spots, buried for weeks. It is in this con- 
 dition in spots now. Yet I was at Marquette two weeks 
 affo, and not a sign of escape in the wire. It was perfectly 
 clear. 
 
 To produce the maximum effect your instruments in cir- 
 cuit should not exceed the resistance of the battery and line 
 wire. If you use an induction machine (a mai^neto) the re- 
 sistance of the coils and line wire would be very light, using 
 ISo. 14 copper wire, and you could work long distances with 
 56 ohm relays polarized. I have worked two 50 ohm polar- 
 ized relays with one of Kidder's magneto machines, costing 
 $8.00, used for domestic medical uses. 
 
 A magneto machine that a man could turn with a crank, 
 and not weighing over 40 pounds, with a commutator to 
 translate both currents in one direction, could be made for 
 you that would do your work. Or, you could use a small 
 Gramme m.achine, with a permanent magnet, as an excitant. 
 
 The snow business is all right. Go ahead. If I can help 
 you, say so. 
 
 Yours, in haste, 
 
 Ch. H. Haskins. 
 
 U. S. Naval Observatory. 
 
 Washington, D. C, January 25, 1877. 
 My Dear Captain : You have asked me for my views 
 ir regard to the best methods of conducting Arctic explo- 
 ration. I take great pleasure in complying with j'our 
 request. 
 
 if in in :|i :|c )|i )|c 
 
 I am opposed to all spasmodic efforts to reach the Pole, 
 because the chances of success are not commensurate with 
 the necessary outlay. There have been comparatively few 
 well organized Polar expediHons, and all these have endeav- 
 ored to effect their object in a single season by a spurt, as it 
 were. They have gone at erratic intervals, knowing com- 
 paratively nothing of the laws that govern the Arctic sea- 
 sons ; so that, so far as their knowledge of the meterological 
 and hydrographical conditions of the Polar regions was 
 concerned, each of them stood on equal chance of success. 
 Under these circumstances each expedition was justly re- 
 garded as an experiment. The failures that attended thv?m 
 were, in a great measure, due to a blind haste to gain their 
 
97 
 
 objects. That eminent scientists should have considered 
 the quite meagre results as an ample reward for the expen- 
 diture of life and money, proves only the magnitude and 
 extent of the scientific secrets which are locked up in the 
 frozen North awaiting the intelligent and persistent ex- 
 plorer. The only legacies that can be considered of absolute 
 value which these expeditions have left to the world are 
 the feats of heroism and endurance that send the enthusi- 
 astic glow of admiration through the heart of humanity, the 
 bloodless deeds of renown, and the immortal glory won, 
 not by triumphs over fellow men, hut by victories over 
 nature in its most forbidding guise. 
 
 Pole, 
 with 
 y few 
 ideav- 
 t, as it 
 cora- 
 c sea- 
 ogical 
 IS was 
 access, 
 tly rc- 
 1 thorn 
 their 
 
 A Ship bearing reinforcements and supplies should, if 
 possible, visit the colony each year. No one should be com- 
 pelled to remain longer than one winter either on the ship 
 or at the station ; and the commander should each year 
 order home those whom experience has proved to be unser- 
 viceable or uncompanionable. 
 
 The band of explorers should spend each spring and au- 
 tumn in making excursions in various directions and in pay- 
 ing minute attention to the accurate survey and delineation 
 of the country traversed. Dogs should be used for draught. 
 They are the natural teams of the country; they require 
 little food and no clothing ; they need no shelter ; they are 
 fleet and strong; they will serve as food to a famishing party, 
 and, moreover, they multiply so amazingl}' that, with proper 
 precautions, the kennel need never be empty. The sleds 
 should approximate in shape, size and material to those used 
 by the Esquimaux. At least they should be fastened together 
 by thongs of raw hide and should be shod with ivory. Es- 
 quimaux should be employed as dog drivers to accompany 
 all sledge expeditions, both because they understand how to 
 take care of dogs, how to build, quickly and well, c<now- 
 igloos (which are best suited for temporary shelter,) ond also 
 because they know how to hunt, which is a very important 
 consideration. Now, whi*^e men, with all their genius and 
 skill, while able to do these things tolerably after consi<ler- 
 able practice, are totally unable while on a sledge journey to 
 make themselves as comfortable as the Esquimaux, who, at 
 the same time, need less food and clothing. Hence, the 
 knowledge and aid of these hardy sons of the North should 
 be invoked. A man with ordinary tact and judgment can 
 
98 
 
 secure a willing service from these innocent and docile 
 people. 
 
 ^p ^^ ^p ^p ^* ^* ^^ 
 
 A continuous eiFort would also afford an opportunity to 
 test men, and, in time, those qualified physically and men- 
 tally for the peculiar service would be secured. A long res- 
 idence at tlie station or on the ship — whether continuous or 
 broken by returns home for recuperation — would give an 
 experience in the modes of Arctic travel that would be val- 
 uable indeed, and that would insure final success. The ser- 
 vice would be eminently desirable, and each year hosts of 
 volunteers would present themselves, from whom good men 
 could be chosen. Under proper management scurvy would 
 not appear, and if the quarters were comfortable and the 
 food plentiful and of the right kind, the men could live as 
 well and happily as in more southern latitudes. 
 
 In order to preserve the health of the crew, specitil atten- 
 tion should be paid to discipline. The men should not be 
 required to expose themselves so as to become very cold or 
 wet except under the most imperative necessity; neither 
 should any unnecessary service, nor service of questionable 
 expediency, be forced from them. The great solicitude of 
 a commander of an Arctic expedition should be to keep up 
 the spirits of his men, to banish all repinings and disquie- 
 tude, and to promote their happiness and thorough content. 
 Scurvy has no power over a man with a cheerful frame of 
 mind if only he has the opportunity to provide suitably for 
 the wants of his body. Exercise must be performed cheer- 
 fully and with the mind interested, to be of any service ; 
 enforced exercise rarely accomplishes the intended results. 
 
 Land as a base of operations is essential for the best kind 
 of Polar effort, not only because thereby whatever advance 
 may be made can be held, but because the value of the 
 observations will be increased if made at a permanent station. 
 Many routes present this advantage, and I would not pre- 
 sume to say, absolutely, which would offer the fewest obstacles 
 to an advance to the Pole. I trust that in a few years every 
 possible route will be faithfully tried. 
 
 But as an American and for an American expedition, I 
 would unhesitatingly recommend the Smith's Sound route — 
 the field in which Kane, Hayes and Hall won such renown — 
 r field that still affords an opportunity to show the world 
 
99 
 
 what American pluck and enterprise can accomplish. It 
 will be iiuneceBsary to mention additional reasons for this 
 preference. They will naturally present themselves to the 
 Arctic student. 
 
 The United States has the right to consider the Smith's 
 Sound route as peculiarly its own, and no eftbrt shouM be 
 spared to carry on in that direction the work of her illustrious 
 heroes, living and dead. Her history contains no brighter 
 pages than those that record their courage and endurance. 
 
 of 
 up 
 
 [Uie- 
 ;ent. 
 
 ;of 
 
 for 
 leer- 
 •ice ; 
 mlts. 
 
 kind 
 ance 
 e the 
 ,tion. 
 pre- 
 acles 
 jvery 
 
 Ion, I 
 
 ]ite — 
 Ivvn— 
 Ivorld 
 
 Your plan, so far as you have announced it, is so like mine 
 that it seems almost unnecessary to say how heartily in sym- 
 pathy I am with you in your ettbrts to organize a Polar expe- 
 dition upon a sound basis. I trust that you will be very 
 successful; that Congress will determine to carry on the 
 good work, and that you will l>e spared to share its triumphs. 
 Polar research offers more rewards in the way of national 
 glory and renown than any other similar enterprise. 
 
 I am fully convinced that the flag of the United States can 
 be planted upon the North Pole itself if the proper support 
 be given to those who have the patience and determination 
 to attempt and pursue the indicated plan. 
 
 When the Arctic regions shall have thus been made known, 
 and the necessary scientific observations secured, then the 
 attention of explorers might be directed to the South Pole, 
 and under a corresponding system that vast and unknown 
 Antarctic region will yield up its secrets, and man will at 
 last " have dominion over all the earth," and prove his 
 obedience by attempting to "subdue it." 
 
 Very respectfully and sincerely yours, 
 
 R. W. D. Bryan. 
 To Capt. H. W. HowGATE, U. S. A., Washington, D. C. 
 
 [From Captain George E. Tyson, of the Polaris.'] 
 
 Washington, D. C. 
 Captain H. W. Howgate: 
 
 Dear Sir: I was very agreeably surprised to see your 
 letter, published some time ago in the New York papers, 
 containing a proposition to Congress to appropriate money, 
 
 ■iiiiiiiiiMiBH 
 
100 
 
 ship and the necessary equipment for another expedition to 
 endeavor to reach the North Pole, and I heartily concur with 
 you in the plan therein suggested as the most practicahle 
 yet devised. It is a matter of no little surprise to me that 
 there lias not been more of an outpouring of American 
 enthusiasm toward the achievement of the success of this 
 great enterprise, and that, too, when we consider the magni- 
 tude and great importance of the work. It is unquestionably 
 a noble cftbrt, and the scientific societies of the country 
 would do well to unite in memorializing Congress relative 
 thereto. Now is the time, and if this Government fails this 
 year, through a spirit of parsimonious economy, to appro- 
 priate the means necessary to the furtherance of this project, 
 England or Germany will, in all probability, secure the 
 honor of this great achievement. 
 
 George E. Tyson. 
 
 [From Captain H. C. Chester, of the Polaris Expedition.] 
 
 To the Editor of the. New York Times: 
 
 Having had ;ome experience in Arctic exploration, and 
 being familiar with its dangers and diificulties, my attention 
 has been called to the letter of Captain Henry W. Howgate, 
 published in the "Times" on the 26th of December. I beg 
 to express my thorough approval of the plan submitted by 
 Captain Howgate, as I believe it to be the only v.ay by 
 means of which the Pole can be reached. All future explora- 
 tions tending to solve the mysteries of this extreme northern 
 region will have to be prosecuted by means of gradual ad- 
 vances made from some main depot. Exactly the same 
 idea was entertained liy Captain Hall. When we were at 
 the furthest point of land, about 82° 8", in October, 1871, 
 we looked at the so-called inpenetrable sea of ice. Then it 
 was moving ice and water. From its smoothness we felt 
 very sure that when the colder weather set in we would 
 have but little trouble traversing the channel in the spring. 
 We should have eiideavored to have crossed Robeson's 
 Straits, and would have tried to gain a point of land visible 
 northwest of us, which land we called Cape Union, and 
 which we calculated was some sixty miles distant. If Cap- 
 tain Howgate's suggestions of establishing a [>arty at or about 
 Eobeson's Channel, or to the west of it, is ever carried out, I 
 
101 
 
 a- 
 
 I'U 
 
 (1- 
 
 at 
 
 it 
 
 lid 
 
 h's 
 l)le 
 [nd 
 
 )Ut 
 
 It, I 
 
 think these people would, by progressive stages, reach in time- 
 the much desired goal. As to the obstructions mentioned 
 by Captain Nares, all I can state is that such impediments 
 did not exist in my time. The reasons why I suppose they 
 cannot be so formidable are founded in the following observa- 
 tions: When, in May and June of 1872, we lay with the 
 boats and crew of the Polaris, twenty-five miles from the 
 ship, on the floe ice, waiting for an opening in Robeson's 
 Channel, in order to cross it, during four weeks' time the 
 straits were blocked with ice, but this ice was all moving 
 south. We found no opening for a month, and were unable 
 to use our boats. This ice went southerly at the uniform 
 rate of about one and a half miles an hour, and was never 
 checked, save when the winds blew south or southwest. If, 
 then, the strait was filled with ice moving southerly, such 
 an impassable barrier of ice as Captain Nares speaks of must 
 have been found at a point very much further north than 
 the land designated by us as being Cape Union. I do not 
 think there could have been much of an error as to the 
 distance we supposed ourselves to be from this Cape Union, 
 and the North Pole could not have been more than 420 miles 
 north of it. 
 
 When Captain Hall and the writer undertook the fourteen- 
 day sledge journey, when we worked our way along in the 
 twilight, Captain Hall said to me, "I am satisfied that the 
 only way to reach the Pole will be for us to carry our pro- 
 visions across Robeson's Channel, to form a depot on the 
 other side, and from thence take out parties. It is work we 
 must lay out for ourselves this spring." I believe, had Cap- 
 tain Hall lived, ho would have carried forward the work just 
 as Captain Howgate proposes; that is, by establishing depots 
 and making progressive stages. Captain Hall's untimely 
 death, on the 8tli of November, 1871, prevented his accom- 
 plishing this design. I think, in order to prosecute the plan 
 proposed by Captain Howgate, there would be no difficulty 
 in procuring thirty men accustomed to Arctic travel, wlio 
 would ultimately achieve success. As to fresh blood food, 
 I am positive that, at least in the neighborhood of Robeson's 
 Channel, the musk ox can be found from May to October. 
 I shot the first musk ox on the Polaris plane in 81° 40" 
 during the latter i>art of Septeiiiber. Witli the crew of the 
 Polaris in the latitude of 82° we killed twenty-four musk 
 oxen. I do not believe there would be any trouble in pro- 
 visioniiig thirty men yearly with this fresh food. I there- 
 
;,.«i' :'"■■ 
 
 102 
 
 • 
 fore must freely indorse Captain Howgate's views, and say 
 with him, " Let an expedition be organized to start in the 
 spring of 1877, and I firmly believe that in 1880 the geogra- 
 phy of the Polar circle would be definitely settled, and that 
 without loss of life." 
 
 H. C. Chester. 
 Philadelphia, Saturday^ December 30, 1876. 
 
 [From Mr. Robert Seyboth, a member of Dr Hayes' expedition.] 
 (yi-pL H. W. Howgate: 
 
 I have not the slightest doubt if a sufficient number of 
 energetic men, well selected and officered, can acclimate 
 themselves to the terrible severity of Arctic winters, the 
 greatest difficulty in the way of the discovery of the Pole 
 will have been overcome, for such a party and depot could 
 be used as a base of operation from which to push forward, 
 in favorable junctures '^f temperature and their accompany- 
 ing condition, succep?^ 'e posts, each one to be permanently 
 held until t'le ne.vt wms established, and until some favoring 
 season made the open Polar Sea a navigable reality. 
 
 The great questioi to be answered in considering your 
 scheme is the possibility of sustaining human life at such 
 high latitudes for a sufficient length of time. I do not hesi- 
 tate to answer this question in the affirmative. My own 
 experience during a stay of nearly two years within the 
 Arctic circle, and with an expedition that possessed none of 
 the comforts and safeguards usually provided for Arctic ex- 
 plorers, warrant me to believe that a systematically con- 
 ducted plan of colonization, such as you propose, would 
 meet no insurmountable difficulties in the eftbrt to sustain 
 life and sufficient robustness to carry out the work of ex- 
 ploration. Scurvy, the great enemy of former explorers, 
 can bo entirely avoided by adopting the proper hygienic 
 precautions, as has been fully proved by the late Captain 
 Hall, who spent several years in succession in company of 
 the Es(iuimaux, in perfect health and without assistance 
 from the outside world. 
 
 It is a noteworthy fact that American whalers, who fre- 
 quently remain two or more successive winters in the Arc- 
 tic regions, do not suffer from scurvy while wintering, but 
 
103 
 
 are almost invariably afflicted with the fell disease during 
 the homeward voyage. Why ? Because they do not hesi- 
 tate to eat plentifully of seal, walrus, bear, and even whale 
 meat, all of which is readily obtainable in the highest lati- 
 tudes. To this diet I myself found no difficulty m becom- 
 ing accustomed, and, consequently, did not suffer from 
 scurvy until after the enforced resumption of "salt junk" on 
 the homeward stretch. Granting, then, the possibility of 
 colonization, I fully believe that the adoption of your scheme 
 would strike at the root of former failures in Arctic explora- 
 tions, for it substitutes the steady conquest, step by step, 
 in place of the spasmodic and unsustained efforts hitherto 
 made at the sacrifice of untold treasure and the loss of great 
 and noble lives. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 RpBERT SeYBOTH. 
 
 IC 
 
 [Letter of the Secretary of the Navy.] 
 
 Navy Department, Washington, 
 
 February 2, 1877. 
 
 Sir: In connection with House bill No. 4,339, now in your 
 hands, and which provides for another Arctic expedition, I 
 have to express a hearty interest therein, and an earnest 
 hope for the success of the plan. The successful sledge 
 journey made by Captain Hall before his death, the concur- 
 rent testimony as to a Polar sea open in some seasons, and 
 all the details of evidence from the Polaris crew, seem to show 
 that success is possible. Qualified officers, I doubt not, will 
 gladly volunteer for such duties as may be assigned the 
 navy in connection with such an expedition. I am con- 
 vinced, however, that no expedition should be sent to this 
 dangerous and distant 'gion except under the sanction of 
 the strictest military discipline. 
 
 I have the honor to be, &c., 
 
 Geo. M. Robeson, 
 Secretary of the Navy. 
 
 Hon. Benjamin A. Willis, 
 
 Of the Committee on Naval A fairs. 
 
 House of Representatives. 
 
104 
 
 [Letter of President Joseph Henry, L. L. D.] 
 
 Smithsonian Institution, Washington, 
 
 January 31, 1877. 
 
 Sir: Your letter of the 80th instant, asking my opinioa 
 as to the plan of Captain Howgate for explorations in the 
 Arctic regions, and its utility in regard to scientific and 
 commercial results, has been received, and I have the honor 
 to give you the following reply: 
 
 From my connection with the Smithsonian Institution 
 and the National Academy of Sciences, I am, of course, in- 
 terested in every proposition which has for its object the ex- 
 tension of scientifac knowledge, and, therefore, I am predis- 
 posed to advocate any rational plan for exploration and con- 
 tinued observations within the Arctic circle. 
 
 Much labor has been expended on this subject, especially 
 with a view to reach the Pole; yet many problems con- 
 nected with physical geography and science in general re- 
 main unsolved. 
 
 1. With regard to a better determination of the figure of 
 the earth, pendulum experiments are required in the region 
 in question. 
 
 2. The magnetism of the earth requires for its better 
 elucidation a larger number and more continued observa- 
 tions than have yet been made. 
 
 3. To complete our knowledge of the tides of the ocean,. 
 a series of observations should be made for at least an entire 
 year. 
 
 4. For completing our knowledge of the winds of the 
 globe, the results of a larger series of observations than 
 those we now possess are necessary, and also additional 
 observations on temperature. 
 
 5. The whole field of natural history could be enriched 
 by collections in the line of botany, mineralogy, geology, 
 &c., and facts of interest obtained with regard to the influ- 
 ence of extreme cold on animal and vegetable life. 
 
 All of the above mentioned branches of science are indi- 
 rectly connected with the well being of man, and tend not 
 only to enlarge his sphere of mental pleasures, but to pro- 
 mote the application of science to the arts of life. 
 
 As to the special plan of Captain Howgate, that of estab- 
 lishing of a colony of explorers and observers, to be con- 
 tinued for several years, I think favorably. 
 
 The observations which have previously been made in the 
 
105 
 
 Arctic regions have usually been of a tVagmimtary character, 
 and not sufficient in any one case to establish the changes 
 of the observed phenomena during an entii-e year, whereas 
 to obtain even an approximation to the general law of 
 changes a number of years are required. 
 
 It may be proper to state, in behalf of the National Acad- 
 emy of Sciences, that should Congress make the necessary 
 appropriation for this enterprise, the Academy will cheer- 
 fully give a series of directions as to the details of the in- 
 vestigations to be made, and the best methods to be em- 
 ployed. 
 
 I have the honor to be, very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 Joseph Henry, 
 Secretary Smithsonian Institution, 
 President National Academy of Sciences, 
 
 Hon. Bbnj. a. Willis, 
 
 Mouse of Representatives. 
 
 ;ab- 
 ;on- 
 
 the 
 
 [Letter of Admiral David D. PoAer.] 
 
 Washington, D. C, January 31, 1877. 
 
 Sir : I beg leave to acknowledge the receipt of your note 
 of January 30, with accompanying pamphlet, in relation to 
 Polar colonization and exploration. 
 
 I have examined the pamphlet with the care that the im- 
 portance of the subject demands. 
 
 I have always been an advocate for Arctic exploration, in 
 whatever form it might be undertaken, and I think there 
 would be no greater difficulty in carrying out an enterprise 
 in the manner you propose than there would be in a ship. 
 • In fact, if an expedition was promptly fitted out in the first 
 instance, and landed in good condition at the point proposed 
 as headquarters, it would be less hampered if the ship should 
 return home until wanted with supplies. 
 
 In my opinion, there is an open sea for two hundred miles 
 toward the Pole; that there are high mountains, from which 
 are precipitated the icebergs which lately blocked up Robe- 
 son's Channel, and that had Markham's farthest point been 
 exceeded by sixty miles the pack would have been passed 
 and open water reached again. 
 
 Every few years we must expect just such a pack as Cap- 
 
 «ii , 
 
 g^j^jj^l^»g&ll^^ 
 
106 
 
 tain Nares encounterefl, whicli will probably last for a year 
 or two, and will thon break up. 
 
 If, at the moiuent of breaking up, men and boats are in 
 readiness to take advantage of tlie opportunity, a great ad- 
 vance conld be made toward the Pole. 
 
 There are no greater hard.ships to be encountered as high 
 as 83° than have heretofore been surmounted by the intrepid 
 explorers of the Arctic regions, and when we reflect that a 
 party from the Poloris drifted eighteen hundred miles on a 
 cake of ice, and that an infant and its mother were all that 
 time exposed to the inclemencies of the Arctic regions, we 
 ought to have no doubts about a company of strong, active 
 men, well provided with everything necessary to make life 
 endurable in that (isolate region. 
 
 Certainly no weather can be more severe than that encoun- 
 tered by the officers and men of the Alert and Discovery^ 
 who experienced a temperature of 100° below the freezing 
 point. It would seem that there are actually no drawbacks 
 in the way of weather which have not been encountered be- 
 fore, and we are able to make every preparation to meet the 
 difficulties in our way. 
 
 It becomes now simply a question of hardy men with brave 
 hearts and cheerful dispositions, provided with an ample 
 stock of the best provisions, and with means of amusement 
 to make the winter nights pass as speedily as possible. The 
 greatest difficulty will be to keep up the spirits of the men, 
 and this matter should be very seriously considered in se- 
 lecting the individuals for an expedition of this kind. Nos- 
 talgia is the great enemy you would have to fear; and if 
 every man should be obliged to understand some mechani- 
 cal pursuit which he could follow when the party was laid 
 up for the winter, it would go far toward bringing about a 
 successful issue. 
 
 In the event of such an expedition as you propose, I see a* 
 fine opportunity of utilizing the electric telegraph. Wires 
 could be laid along on the ground or ice without much dan- 
 ger of their being carried off by bears or foxes. 
 
 I am no believer in a northwest passage for any practical 
 purposes, but I do believe that there are a number of scien- 
 tific subjects that can be better demonstrated at the North 
 Pole than anywhere else, and I think we owe it to ourselves 
 to know all about a matter which has hitherto remained in 
 comparative obscurity. 
 
 In establishing your colony I would particularly suggest 
 
107 
 
 that a number of houses he erected and somewliat separated. 
 That of itself would tend to create a diversion by causine 
 the men to visit each other freciuently. It would be well, 
 however, to have one central depot under the eye of the 
 conmianding otficer, where the command could be assem- 
 bled as occasio!! might require. These houses could be 
 made in sections and put up at the end of the voyage. They 
 should he lined with thick felt, and would be very com- 
 fortable. 
 
 In connection with the proposed expedition, I recommend 
 a combination of sledge and boat, somewhat after the plan 
 of the gutta-percha or kerite-rubl)cr life-rafts used in the 
 Navy. The^' could be made very light for carrying pai^ks, 
 and when forced to take the water could be navigated with 
 safety. If such appliances had been more used in Arctic 
 explorations many lives might have been saved. 
 
 Ill conclusion, permit me to say that I can see no. objec- 
 tion whatever to your plan, and hope you may meet with 
 the success your energy deserves. 
 Very respectfully, yours, 
 
 David D. Porter, Admiral. 
 Captain H. W. Howqate, U. S. A., 
 
 Signal Office, Washington, D. C. 
 
 I a* 
 'eg 
 iii- 
 
 [Letter of Rear-Admiral Charles H. Davis.] 
 
 Naval Observatory, 
 \¥ashiN(}ton, D. C, January 31, 1877. 
 Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your 
 communication of the 30th instant, and to say in reply, that 
 the plan for Arctic exploration proposed by Captain How- 
 gate, United States Signal Corps, meets my entire concur- 
 rence and approval. 
 
 The general principles laid down by Captain Howgate for 
 the conduct of future Arctic expeditions seem to be univer- 
 sally adopted. These principles originated in the recent ex- 
 pedition under Captain Hall. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 C. H. Davis, 
 Rear-Admiral, Superintendent. 
 Hon. Ben.j. a. Willis, 
 
 Chairman Suh-rommiitee on Naval Affairs, 
 House of Representatives. 
 
108 
 
 [Letter of Dr. Igaao I. Hnypi, Arctic Explorer.] 
 
 State of New York, Assembly Chamber, 
 
 Albany, February 12, 1877. 
 
 My Dear Sir : I am ^liul to neu you arc getting on so 
 well with your proposed expedition, and that the matter is 
 in such good hands. You can, of course, always rely upon 
 me for any assistance in my power. I think your scheme 
 feasihle, and trust sincerely that you will ol)tain the neces- 
 sary appropriation. Your general plan is a good one, and 
 how fully I am in accord with it you may judge from a 
 paper i ad by me before the Geographical Society in New 
 York, November 12, 1868, from which I extract the fol- 
 lowing: 
 
 " My views in this respect are in no way changed, but 
 rather they are continued by events. I give this simple 
 enumeration of itw advantages: Int. Land as a base of oper- 
 ation, 2d. The opportunity to colonize a party of hunters 
 and natives, as a permanent support. A glance at the map 
 will show you how important is the first of these elements ; 
 the second requires a further explanation. The colony was 
 indeed the key to the plan which I had proposed for 1862. 
 Had I been able to return that year, I would have started 
 with two vessels, one a small steamer, the other a sailing 
 vessel as a store ship. Purfhing through the middle ice of 
 Baffiji Bay, I would have steered for Port Foulke, my old 
 winter harbor, at the mouth of Smith Sound. Here I 
 would have secured the auxiliary vessel, and, remaining only 
 a sufficient length of time to see the natives gathered 
 together and the wheels of ni}' little colony set in motion, I 
 would have sought the west coast of Smith Sound with the 
 steamer, and through the land-leads have worked my way 
 to the Polar water. Failing to accomplish this the first 
 season, I would have secured a harbor for the winter, and 
 pushed on the work as opportunity offered. Failing alto- 
 gether, (in the event of finding the ice too closely impacted 
 at the head of Smith Sound to admit of a passage,) I would 
 still have secured my object, for with a provision depot now 
 within six hundred miles of the Pole, with the colony at my 
 back, and in the winter readily accessible, with dogs breed- 
 ing there, and with furs aud provisions accumulating, I 
 would have overcome the obstacles which embarrassed me 
 in 1860 and 1861, and which had embarrassed Dr. Kane 
 before me. Once in this favorable situation I would have 
 
109 
 
 brouglit up my available streTigtli from the colony, and in 
 the early s|)rlng, put out dopotH of provisions along the lino 
 of Grinnel Land, and, following them up by a boat mounted 
 on runners, I would tlien have sought the open water and 
 the Pole. Such was my plan seven years ago. It is my 
 plan to-day. T believe it reasonable, and experience con- 
 vinces me that it is practicable. I even believe that the 
 chances are greatly in favor of the success of the first part 
 of the scheme; that is to say, that the ice belt can be pene- 
 trated with the steamer, the open 8eana^'igated,and Benring 
 Strait and the Pacific Ocean reached." 
 
 If you care to follow up the subject so far as myviows are 
 concerned, you will find them fully expressed in the Journal 
 of the Geographical Society for 1869, volume 2, part 2. I 
 think it will be evident to you that the great feature of my 
 plan w^as that the colony at Port Fouike would be always 
 acccssibie from home every summer, with as much certainty 
 as any port in the world. Besides, it is one of the most jtro- 
 litic centers of animal life in all that region. Reindeer are 
 numerous in its vicinity, my party capturing upward of two 
 hundred during our ten months' stay in our winter ((uarters. 
 During the summer tiie air was teeming with bird life, and 
 the sea was alive with walrus and seal. Bears and foxes 
 were also numerous. Your extensive reading upon the 
 subject of Arctic exploration will have shown you that men 
 will not long endure the Arctic climate. Even Sir Edward 
 Parry, the greatest of all Arctic navigators, found himself 
 obliged to return home after two winters, mainly because 
 of the disturbed morale, of his men. The long-continued 
 darkness of the winter, the entire deprivation of society, 
 and the universal cheerlessness have a singularly depressing 
 influence upon the mind, and you will therefore at once 
 perceive the value of establishing a station where annual in- 
 tercourse can be had with home, whence the sick and weary 
 can be sent away, and new recruits brought into the field. 
 
 With Port Fouike as a principal station, and other points 
 subordinate to it established on the coast of Grinnel Land, 
 up to Lady Franklin Bay and beyond, I think success would 
 be assured in the course of three or four years. In any case, 
 a vast amount of scientific information would be obtained 
 at little cost and little risk to life. 
 
 Wishing you every success in your praiseworthy endeavor, 
 believe me, very truly, yours, 
 
 I. I. Hayes. 
 Capt. H. W. HowGATE, Washington^ D. C. 
 
 
 Hi 
 
110 
 
 [Lette-' from Rev. Eliphalet Nott Potter, D. D., Preaident of Union College.] 
 
 Union College, Schenectady, New York, 
 
 February 15, 1877. 
 My Dear Mr. Willis: * * * j havQ not noticed 
 whether the bill for Arctic exploration has yet been re- 
 poriod; if not, as I understand it to be in your hands, permit 
 me to say, for myself and the faculty, that we regard the 
 measure with great solicitude, and hope much from its be- 
 coming a law. In the naturally intense interest which you 
 feel in the presidential national question, don't fail to remem- 
 ber and to press this measure of importance to science and 
 the welfare of the world. 
 
 It will be a proud thing for the practical genius of America 
 to carry out the only feasible approach to the solution of a 
 question, costing only a useless outlay of life and treasure 
 so long as the end is pursued by the old method. 
 In haste, and sincerely, yours, 
 
 E. N. Potter, 
 
 [Letter from Dr. John Rae, Arctic Explorer.] 
 
 2 Addison Gardens, 
 
 Kensington, 23f^ February, 1877. 
 Dear Sir: I beg to thank you for the pamphlet you have 
 so kindly sent me through our Geographical Society, giving 
 3'our plan of an Arctic expedition, or a series of them, via 
 Smith Sound, a specially American route, by which I think 
 there is much yet to be done. 
 
 Your plan I think an admirable one, and I do trust your 
 Government will take it up in a liberal spirit, and that 
 suitable men will volunteer for the rough but most attractive 
 work. 
 
 Having heard of your plan before I received your pam- 
 phlet, I yesterday sent off by post a long list of suggestions 
 (founded upon my own Arctic experience and life in the 
 Hudson Bay Territories,) to the President of the Geographical 
 Society, New York, with a hope that one or two of them 
 might be useful. 
 
 Wishing you every success, believe me faithfully yours, 
 
 John" Rae. 
 Captain Howgate. 
 
Ill 
 
 via 
 
 lours, 
 
 lE. 
 
 The following letter is from a gentleman who was con- 
 nected with Arctic exploring parties in the search for Sir 
 John Franklin. He had the friendship and esteem of Dr. 
 Elisha Kent Kane, and is often referred to in the works of 
 that lamented gentleman: 
 
 St. Andrews, Manitoba, 
 
 August 22, 1877. 
 To the Editor of the New London Telegram : 
 
 Sir: In a late issue of a local paper of this province I find 
 that a Polar expedition is now in course of equipment, and 
 will sail from New York in July next. As one who takes 
 an interest in Arctic matters, having commanded one of 
 Lady Franklin's private Arctic expeditions, will you kindly 
 permit me, through you, to say by way of sympathy and en- 
 couragement to those going, that I consider such an enter- 
 prise as likely to he productive of two primary results. 
 
 I believe, in the first place, that from the highest north- 
 ern points attained by Hull and Nares, the North Pole may 
 be easily reached, and by sledges. To accomplish this it is 
 only necessary to have proper men and other appropriate 
 equipment. The men should be those accustomed to the 
 use of snow shoe and sled. Their food should consist mainly 
 of pemican and dried meat, prepared after the manner of 
 the Red river bufltalo hunters. Such food is compact, nu- 
 tritious, and not likely to give scurvy. Their clothing should 
 be strong, woolen underclothing, with dressed moose-skin or 
 its nearest equivalent, as the outer garments. As foot gear 
 nothing can equal the Indian moccasin. 
 
 To be prepared for every eventuality they should be pro- 
 vided with two kinds of sledges — the Esquimaux sled, 
 which has runners, and tiie Indian flat sled. The first is 
 best fitted for running over crusted snow, the other over 
 soft snow, such as Nares found. The fuel for journeys 
 should be spirits of wine, and snow houses for shelter, in- 
 stead of tents; the beverage only tea and coflfee — no spirits 
 whatsoever. 
 
 Being thus provif^ed and sotting out due north, say on the 
 first of April — March, in sc liign a latitude, would be too 
 cold — say from latitude 80° north, they would have four 
 months before them for accomplishing the distance of twelve 
 hundred miles — a feat that has already been accomplished. 
 Instead of an open " Polar sea " it is most likely the party 
 would find a glazier covered land to travel over. The un- 
 
!l||I&l!i^ 
 
 112 
 
 usually heavy ice that Sir G. Xares met with, is to be indica- 
 tive of land formed ice, precisely similar to that found in the 
 Antarctic region. 
 
 The open "Polar sea" will, I believe, be in the end found 
 to be the tail end of the gulf stream. This current entering 
 the Arctic regions between Iceland and Nova Zembla, I 
 believe, sweeps westward after meeting with northern un- 
 known lands and ultimately finding its way to Robeson's (of 
 Nares) Channel, enters that and so passes southward through 
 Baffin's Bay into the Atlantic. 
 
 A stream like this can alone account for Arctic summer 
 birds, in going north in autumn and south in spring, in 
 going to and returning from their winter haunts. They 
 may fairly be supposed to round the northern coast line of 
 Greenland, being thus guided by the higher temperature 
 both of the water and the atmosphere in this, the supposed 
 termination of the gulf stream. 
 
 Cold, dismal, and uninviting as the Smith Sound region 
 is, it nevertheless has its undeveloped resources no less than 
 other countries. The walrur^ seem to be abundant in t^ at 
 region, also the Polar bear, the musk ox, the reindeer, and 
 other animals. With the aid of the Esquimaux, provided 
 with the proper requisites for it, they mi-rht procure large 
 numbers of these animals. The seam of coal discovered 
 by Nares would supply a first requisite for a comfortable 
 fireside. 
 
 The expedition should carry with it presents for the Es- 
 quimaux, snch as saws, axes, knives, fish-hooks, awls, gim- 
 lets, drills, files, needles, and other utensils. The Esqui- 
 maux discovered by the late lamented Dr. Kane are United 
 States citizens, and must be living in that state that geolo- 
 gists describe as the "stone and iron age." Any tool, there- 
 fore, with an edge to it must be of incalculable value to such 
 a.people. With a moderate supply of these, but more than 
 all, with guns and ammunition, such as we may suppose to 
 be stored in United States stores, as now useless relics of 
 the late war, how much might be done to incorporate "the 
 less advanced with the more progressive man," and so turn 
 to account that which is at present as if it were not in 
 existence. 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 William Kennedy, 
 
 Late Commanding Lady Fratiklin^g Prirafe Arctic Expedition, 
 
113 
 
 [From the New York Herald, May 20, 1877.] 
 
 THE POLAR COLONY. 
 
 Es- 
 
 !;im- 
 
 lited 
 ;olo- 
 lere- 
 iuch 
 than 
 ie to 
 58 of 
 "the 
 I turn 
 )t in 
 
 •(lilion. 
 
 Another letter on Captain Howgate's plan, from the ac- 
 complished Arctic explorer, Julius Payer, will be found in 
 our columns to-day. It is a thoughtful contribution to the 
 comprehensive study of this scheme of discovery, which 
 seems to grow in favor with the writers on the subject in 
 proportion as it is considered, either in the light of argu- 
 ments in its favor or those against it; for it bids fair to be 
 conceded that there is no objection to it that does not equally 
 apply to a nautical expedition compelled to winter in the 
 Arctic regions, while there appear to be several points of 
 great importance in which it has a decided advantage over 
 such expeditions. Our readers will liud many objections 
 fairly stated in the communication to which we refer, and 
 we do not believe that they are made unduly prominent. 
 No enterprise of this nature is to be conducted, even to that 
 degree of success of which it is rationally capable, by shut- 
 ting our eyes to the obstacles. Indeed, the choice of means 
 for accomplishing an end confessedly surrounded with the 
 greatest diHiculties is a choice only between different sets of 
 obstacles, and it has to be duly weighed which of these, if 
 any, is absolutely insuperable. It is evidently the opinion 
 of Payer that the difficulties in this case are not that of that 
 nature. It may be said now of this as of many other projects 
 first scouted as visionary, that the conscientious study of its 
 possibilities has placed it in the category of attempts sure to 
 be made at no remote period in the future. 
 
 Frankfort-on-the-Main, April 1, 1877. 
 
 To the Editor of the Herald : 
 
 The Congress of the United States had recently before it 
 u bill, which was referred to the Naval Committee, provid- 
 ing an appropriation of $50,000 for the establishment of a 
 Polar colony. This colony is to be situated about four hun- 
 dred miles from the North Pole, and to accomplish in pa- 
 tient leisure what the English North Pole expedition failed 
 to achieve. The author of this project is Captain II. W. 
 Hovvgate, of the CTnited States Signal Service. Captain 
 Howgate's plan is to plant a number of tough, determined 
 
 8 
 
114 
 
 and experienced "nen somewhere in the vicinity of the 
 Arctic Sea. The place in which the Discovery passed the last 
 winter has been considered most snitable for this purpose. 
 The colony is to consist of fifty men, to be engaged for three 
 years. A house in Lady Franklin's Bay is to l)e their dwell- 
 ing place; an advance depot is tc be established at the place 
 where the Alert wintered, and to be garrisoned with a few 
 men in the summer, and both stations are to be connected 
 by copper wire and the necessary portable batteries A ship 
 is to be sent out to plant the colony, and then return every 
 year to bring it supplies. 
 
 This ])lan for reaching vhe Pole is not only new, but also 
 better tljan those on which the various expeditions by the 
 way of Smith Sound were based. My personal wishes and 
 views as to the Polar question in general I have already laid 
 down in a previous article. I did this in the presumption 
 that the eftbrts to reach the Pole would still continue despite 
 wvll the objections that have been raised against tlieir utility. 
 For this reason, and because it is better that something 
 should be done than nothing, every one will hail with great 
 interest this American project, not so much from a hope of 
 thereby reaching the goal, but from the probabihty of 
 making new and valuable discoveries in a direction in which 
 the United States have already won distinction. The fol- 
 lowing are the principal objections against Captain How- 
 gate's plan : 
 
 In the first place, it may reasonably be objected to the plan 
 of establishing a Polar colony for three years .1 it such a 
 venture would really be only a three years' Polar lixpedition 
 without a ship — a North Pole expedition which discards a 
 ship from latitude 82° north because it is useless to have 
 one. But the advantages expected could only be reaped by 
 changing, or rather renewing, the colonists and provisions 
 every three — or what would l)e still better — every two years. 
 To expect tliat within three years a condition of the ice will 
 be presented so favorable as to render it possible for a divis- 
 ion of the colony to reach the Pole, seems far too sanguine 
 a hope ; but by multiplying the projected duration of the 
 colony, there might be a chance of reaching this end, and it 
 would be unnecessary to support the colony every year by 
 sending a ship; in fact, only steamers, and these, only under 
 exceptionably favorable conditions, could succeed in reach- 
 ing the colony. 
 
 Both men and officers could calculate to remain two years 
 
116 
 
 in the colony, as disappointed liopes and im|)aired health 
 would render their ettbrts tor the third year entirely fruitless. 
 The colonists would be in every respect castaways, and their 
 position would be even worse than that of the men stationed 
 on the summit of Pike's Peak, Mount Washington, or at 
 Fort York. Not much aid could be expected from the coal 
 beds found by the Discovery. We found some coal deposits 
 on the second German North Pole expedition in Greenland, 
 but very few lumps of coal could be obtained without blast- 
 ing. 
 
 According to Captain Ilowgate, the colony should oidy 
 contain such men as would be capable of making scientific 
 observations. The officers should undoubtedly be able to 
 carry out all scientific labors, but I should be disinclined to 
 engage for the work men not possessing the ({ualities which 
 I mention further below (in discussing the question of equip- 
 ment,) while the attainment of the North Pole remains the 
 principal object of the expedition. I will now speak of the 
 equipment of the expedition. 
 
 A SEAMAN FOR COMMANDER. 
 
 Perfect harmony in the conduct or direction of the expe- 
 dition is the very first necessity. In modern times the direc- 
 tion of Polar expeditions has been transferred to scholars 
 like Kane, Hayes, Nordenskjold, Torell, &c. This course is 
 permissible when the main objects of an expedition of small 
 duration are discoveries in the domain of natural history, 
 but not when the role of the seaman is an important one. 
 Hence, the American expedition should be placed under the 
 command of a seaman. 
 
 lears 
 
 SELECTION OP THE CREW. 
 
 Next to the commander, the selection of the crew requires 
 the greatest solicitude. It should be selected a consider- 
 able time before the starting of the expedition, so as to 
 give the incompetent members an opportunity of making 
 place for those tluit are peculiarly fitted for the task. It is 
 this process of selection, and not its nationality, which de- 
 cides the value of the crew. It is true that excellent sea- 
 manship is not equally distributed among all nations, but it 
 would, nevertheless, require only sufficient time and proper 
 care to procure in almost any country a model crew. It is 
 often assumed that ability to endure cold nmst be the crucial 
 test of fitness. This as an error. A sense of duty, endur- 
 
■ 
 
 llffll^ 
 
 116 
 
 ance and determination are the most essential qualities. 
 Habit soon overcomes cold. It often makes heroes out of 
 sybarites by the stern necessity of its endurance. Complete 
 devotion to the object and to the commander presupposes 
 qualities which cannot often be judged in advance, and can- 
 not either be purchased or sufficiently rewarded. The 
 members of an expedition should only be volunteers, but 
 not as was the ease in the Russian expeditions, when the 
 officers were "chosen" as volunteers, although they had de- 
 clined to participate. 
 
 INTELLIGENCE AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT. 
 
 A certain degree of intelligence in the crew is of high 
 importance. In many instances they must have certain 
 powers of observation and reflection, and even a certain 
 amount of knowledge, to meet danger and reach certain re- 
 sults. But men who pass in a sledge from old to new ice 
 without noticing it, who pay no attention for several hours 
 to a frozen foot, who do not know how to handle their gun, 
 who do not observe the formation of the country through 
 which they are journeying — such men display an inditt'er- 
 ence which, be they even as brave as Achilles, may jeopard- 
 ize the whole expedition. How great the indolence of the 
 uneducated can be, may be inferred from Franklin's retreat. 
 His Canadians purposely threw away or destroyed the most 
 indispensable objects, such as cpnoes, nets, &c., to save them- 
 selves the trouble of carrying them. It was impossible to 
 make them deal economically with the scant provisions. 
 They resisted the orders of their commander, distrusted his 
 directions as to places and routes, secretly wasted their am- 
 munition, the one stole the other's food, and the only thing 
 in which there was unanimity was the defiance of regula- 
 tions made for the good of all. The American Polar col- 
 ony would be in a position scarcely less exposed than that 
 of Franklin and his comrades during their retreat. Seamen 
 are better capable of maintaining discipline under such cir- 
 cumstances than members of any other profession, and, 
 therefore, the colony should mostly consist of them. 
 
 HOW TO MAINTAIN DISCIPLINE. 
 
 The intelligent crew, by reason of its greater indepen- 
 dence, is one more difficult to lead than the ignorant. De- 
 votion and blind confidence are rare among intelligent men, 
 and to control tliem you must set them coiistantly a good 
 
117 
 
 tter- 
 ard- 
 the 
 eat. 
 ost 
 em- 
 le to 
 ons. 
 his 
 am- 
 ing 
 ula- 
 col- 
 that 
 men 
 cir- 
 and, 
 
 rpeu- 
 De- 
 Imen, 
 I good 
 
 example, and act upon them by kindness and importurable 
 calmness. The first law of a rolar expedition is obedience 
 (the history of Polar expeditions narrates the revolts of the 
 crews conitnanded by Davis, Barentz, Weymouth, Hudson, 
 Hall, T. Ross and many others,) and its foundation is mor- 
 ality. Punishments are either impracticable, or, at all events, 
 unreliable and irritating means of obtaining order. Their 
 use, more especially in a private expedition, will sooner effect 
 dissolution than discipline. Coercion and threats remain 
 without results. It was thus fruitless to secure the success 
 of an expedition by compelling the men who had just failed 
 and returned to again resume their errand, a course adopted 
 in the last century after every battled effort to reach the goal 
 from the Siberian l*olar Sea, when many a distinguished dis- 
 coverer was, after his return, degraded to a sailor. The best 
 way of inciting meritorious emulation is to pron\ise great 
 rewards to the most deserving after the return home, but 
 this shouhl be done without naming the prospective recipi- 
 ents of such honors during the pendency of the expedition. 
 As to punitive deductions of pay, the men seldom pay any 
 attention to such tlireats, and with reason, because they are 
 seldom enforced upon the return home. 
 
 PECUNIARY INCENTIVES NEEDED. 
 
 For the officers the scientific achievements will be suffi- 
 cient recompense for their labors, but for the crew only ma- 
 terial advantages can constitute their satisfactory reward. 
 To be sure, monev is but a ^\ ^ak incentive to men who are 
 destined to remain for years among the icy deserts of the 
 North, but it is, after all, the only means by which those 
 indifferent to ideal objects can be interested in their attain- 
 ment. The crew commanded by Captain T. Ross received 
 for four years of nuirtyrdom, spent on the ice, only i;100 
 each. The sailors of the second German expedition re- 
 ceived from eight to twelve thalers per month, but the crew 
 of the Tec/ffhoff' were much better paid, and some of the 
 sledge travelers received as much as 3,000 florins (1$1,500.) 
 A powerful motor for herculean efforts may be obtained b; 
 grading the amount of pay according to the success attained. 
 In 1874 I guaranteed to the men who accompanied me in 
 sledges and should reach eighty-one degrees, |500, to those 
 penetrating to eighty-two degrees, ^1,250, and to those reach- 
 ing the eighty-third, $2,500, but in distributing these amounts 
 among them merit was to be a decisive factor. Prudence, 
 
118 
 
 as well UH justice, recjuires tliat the most deservini^ men should 
 •be protected from wiint utter their return for the reniuiiuier 
 of their lives. The crew of the Teyellwjf' i\\\ received [)erma- 
 nent situations through the State; the crews of the Alert 
 and Discovery got high premiums, and all the officers were 
 promoted. 
 
 I have dwelt somewhat extendedly upon the question of 
 rewards, l)ecause individual experience teaches me their im- 
 portance, and l)ecau8e I presume that the new American 
 expedition will call forth the highest efforts and the most 
 genuine devotion on the part of its members. 
 
 WORTHLESS VOLUNTEERS. 
 
 Volunteers'without special fitness or knowledge available 
 during a Polar expedition — /. e., volunteers who lan offer 
 nothing but their so-called enthusiasm— are worthless, and, 
 if they belong to the better classes, they are finally found to 
 be merely in the way. 
 
 Contrary to the general opinion, I would not recommend 
 the employment of men who have already taken part in ex- 
 peditions, except, perhaps, the most deserving among those 
 specially fitted for the work. Others are but too liable to 
 deem their own experience as valuable as those of the com- 
 mander, and if their views confiict, to oppose a passive resist- 
 ance, which destrovs the first element of successful obedience. 
 On the other hand, men who enter upon their first ex[)edi- 
 tion are apt to receive the directions of an experienced leader 
 with an attention which is generally only paid to revelations. 
 Married men are to be excluded — a course adopted by Ba- 
 rentz (1596) upon his second expedition, while the Tegethoff 
 had five on board. 
 
 The crew should consist of practiced pedestrians, moun- 
 tain climbers and workmen. They should all belong to one 
 nationalit}', and be strong and healthy. The slightest indi- 
 cations of a tendency to rheumatism or affection of the eye 
 and ear or certain other chronic ailments to which sailors 
 fall but too readily a prey render them unable to bear the 
 hardships of a Polar climate, and more especially of a sledge 
 journey. They are like drunkards in this, that they are ex- 
 ceedingly liable to scurvy. Men under thirty are preferable 
 to those above that age. 
 
 A PHYSICIAN, PHOTOGRAPER AND PAINTER NEEDED. 
 
 The physician of an expedition should possess, besides his 
 
119 
 
 Ige 
 lex- 
 Ible 
 
 his 
 
 teohnicul capacity, the moat unconqncruble patier. o, for to 
 Tiiuny of the sick he is us much a physician of tlie mind aB 
 of the body. Even if another doctor has ah'eudy passed upon 
 the physical titness of the men, he shouhl still subject them 
 to a rigorous examination, for he alone is tinally held respon- 
 sible for diseases which may subsequently break out. 
 
 As an expedition should not only aim at its scientific ob- 
 ject, but also at the dissemination of a correct idea or the as- 
 pects of Polar nature, it is urgently to be recommended that 
 a photographer, and, still better, a painter also, accompany 
 the expedition. A photographer is unfortunately cinaim- 
 scribed in the limits of his usefulness by the immediate sur- 
 roundings of his ship. A good painter, however, could give 
 us from the interior of the colony house invaluable studies 
 of nature, and particularly of Polar light effects. They would 
 be invaluable because none exist. On exceptionally tine 
 summer days such studies could even be made in the open 
 air, provided that oil and not water colors were used. 
 
 THOROUGH EQUIPMENT PREREQUISITE. 
 
 In the equipment of the colony in general the principle 
 of providing the temporarily banished with the utmost pos- 
 sible comfort should prevail, as in all other Polar expedi- 
 tions, even if subsequent experiences should baffle the 
 efforts made in that direction. Ever since reading Kane's 
 work, which I received as a school-boy's prize, I have cher- 
 ished the greatest admiration for that heroic man, as well as 
 for Hayes, whose incomparable sledge Journey has been al- 
 ways present to my mind as a lofty ideal. Experience, 
 however, has taught me to warn other expeditions from 
 starting with such insufficient preparations, and this note of 
 warning applies especially to America, where enthusiasm 
 and love of sacrifice go hand in hand. An expedition which 
 lacks the most essential modern aid, that of steam power, 
 and which (like that of Kane) has only scant provisions 
 during the first winter and has to live on dried applies tlie 
 second, takes place under conditions even worse than the 
 winter sojourns of Barentz and Hudson. The smallness of 
 the ships in the instances above referred to was partly the 
 cause of the insufficient equipment. Small ships facilitate 
 the passage through the ice, but, deducting the space re- 
 quired for the accommodation of those on board, for the 
 machines and coal, such ships cannot hold su implies and pro- 
 visions for more than two years and a half. The American 
 
"*^ 
 
 120 
 
 i 
 
 ik 
 
 J 
 
 
 
 
 , 1 
 
 
 . -I 
 
 
 « 
 
 
 
 
 m 
 
 colony, however, is to bo ecuiippcMl for tlireo ycnrs ; a port- 
 able bouRC is to be erected, uiid twice the usual uuniber of 
 ship's crew is to be taken out. The only alternative, there- 
 fore, would be to select a shiji of about the size of the IJis- 
 covery. 
 
 HOW TO FIT UP THE COLONY'S HOUSE. 
 
 Among all circumstances, it is preferable that the mem- 
 bers of the expeditions shall reinaij> on board the ship in- 
 stead of staying in such a houHe. The sliip is warmer and 
 there is less accumulation of ice around it. But as a house 
 is to be erected and used, it should be fitted up for the sjie- 
 cial use of such an expedition in order to overcome the dis- 
 advantages I have named. Of course, the house should be 
 made as dense as a ship, and the living rooms should be 
 provided with water tight tajiestry (\ulcanized India rubber 
 carpet and hangings.) The house should also be protected 
 outside by a layer of snow several inches thick, and the 
 windows should be covered up. To heat the rooms with 
 ordinary stoves is not advisable, owing to their unecjual dis- 
 tribution of the heat, and this can only be secured by the 
 feeding stoves, (Fullofen,) which possess the additional 
 advantage of consuming less coal. The stovepipes should 
 not lead straight up, so that the heat does not escape too 
 soon, but they should be distributed through the room. Hot 
 air, conducted through pipes, is still more preferable, because 
 it counteracts the formation of ice. Bricks will be found use- 
 ful in some parts of the building. A separate chamber can 
 be covered over with tin, and then used for washing, dry- 
 ing and bathing. The use of a bath in these northern re- 
 gions is highly advantageous to health, because the skin re- 
 ceives no other friction. Petroleum will light the living 
 rooms sufficientlv, but in the cabins stearine candles are 
 preferable to petroleum or train oil. Of great importance 
 is the construction of lamp8,(i. e., observation lamps,) which 
 should be used in the winter in the open air, and are not so 
 likely to be extinguished by the blasts of the wind or to be 
 frozen up. Even petroleum freezes at 20 degrees R. Mas- 
 sive grated circular glass lamps, of self-warming capacity, are 
 best fitted for personal use in the open air. They are so 
 popular that it is good to have quite a numbc. All doors 
 should have latch-books and pull-weights. 
 
 SOME USEFUL HINTS IN MINOR MATTERS. 
 
 An important question in passing a winter in the Arctic 
 
 ii 
 
121 
 
 regions is to maiutivin pure air and an equable h(>at. The 
 first iiatncd rcMjuisito is secured l>y boring a few lioles under- 
 neath (at the door) for the ingress, and above (at the eeiling) 
 for the exit of tlie air, and covering tliein over with con- 
 densing vessels. The colony should also not omit to par- 
 tially surround the house with outbuildings of stone or snow, 
 which can be used for storehouses or windless passages and 
 ante-courts, and these latter could be roofed over with strong 
 canvas. 
 
 Discipline requires that the officers and crew should live 
 Beparately. To transfer the kitchen, also, to the crew's room, 
 with a hope of saving coal thereby, is not advisable, because 
 it would too greatly increase the accumulation of moisture. 
 As long as the men remain in the house they will not -equire 
 furs, even in the greatest cold, (vlose fitting woolen under- 
 wear and stout clothing will suffice in most cases, although 
 the temperature in the interior of a houne is lower than it 
 is on shipboard. To take fur-lined leather boots is not ad- 
 visable. They are of great weight, become stiff and soon 
 lose their utility by freezing and by the wearing out of the 
 fur. Boots made of seal or reindeer skin are preferable, but 
 the latter should not be exposed to wet and ought to be 
 covered with a cloth. 
 
 HOW TO SUPPLY THE COLONY. 
 
 The colony will have to suffer more from wet than even 
 ex))edition8 do on shipboard. The changing temperature 
 and condensation of the water steam will exert a disturbing 
 influence upon the instruments. Thick ice films will settle 
 upon them as soon as the observer brings them into the 
 living rooms from the open air, and then they should not 
 be touched, but allowed to evaporate their steam. All in- 
 struments taken along by the colony should l)e cleaned by 
 an optician without oil, so that they shall not freeze, and 
 the gunmaker should do the same with the guns, whose 
 barrels should be dark colored, so that tliev be less liable to 
 rust. Ammunition, powder fuses for blasting the ice, as 
 well as alcohol and [)etroleum, require tight vessels, and the 
 last named two liquors should onh' be accessible through 
 pumps that can be kept well closed. As for the rest, the 
 largest supply of saws, ice augurs, shovels, ice creepers, 
 handles, poles, leather boots, leather, water-tight linen, 
 strong cloth, buffalo hides, flannel, &c., should be taken 
 out. As to solid food, two pounds per man will be enough 
 
i I 
 
 }. 
 
 II 
 
 Jli 
 
 . 122 
 
 for tliu colony, but on sledge JoiirneyB two poundtt und tlireo- 
 quurterH will be required. This uUowuiue should include 
 one pound of breud and one pound of [jreservcd meat. 
 BosidcH tlu! UHUul otiicr supplies, (in which salt jncat should 
 be avoided as much as possible,) great quantities of pre- 
 served vegetable, eocoa, meat extract, rice, pea sausage and 
 dried farinaceous food (nuiccaroni, nudels, &c.,) are highly 
 advisable. Fresh bread twice a week, instead of the hard 
 biscuit, is very coJiducive to health. Indispensable are plenty 
 of tea and tobacco, and the latter, more especially, is sadly 
 missed by seanjeJi. Instances have occurred when the crew 
 would smoke boiled and redried tea, hint, agaric, moss, iid 
 even paper, as they did on the Austrian expedition. Mod- 
 erate use of spirituous drinks is to be recommended; their 
 influence on health and good fellowship is great. It is very 
 difficult, however, to keep any sufficient (juantity of wine, 
 more especially i!i winter, as all sorts of wine freeze at five 
 to eight degrees R. Even on shipboard the preservation of 
 wine is very difficult, and it will be still more so in the 
 colony. It will be better, therefore, to take l)Ut little wine, 
 but all the more good strong rum. The wine (often the best 
 medicine for the sick in these regions) and other indispensa- 
 ble licpiids can only be kept in the heated rooms under the 
 tables, near the stove, or under the berths. To prepare 
 chemical wine during the expedition could be but a dreary 
 makeshift. Even the beer which the English expedition 
 brewed on shipboard from malt and hops would be found 
 better. In the colony's home the brewing will require ex- 
 ceedingly slight development of steam, and during extreme 
 cold it will be found impossible to produce fermentation. 
 
 A CHAPTER ON HEALTH. 
 
 The most careful solicitude should be bestowed upon the 
 selection of preventives of scorbutic diseases. A ration of 
 lime juice should be issued daily, and all anti-scorbutic kinds 
 of food should be provided in abundant quantities. In itself 
 the Arctic air is not unhealthy; on the contrary, catarrh of 
 every description grows less and less, and even the exposures 
 to cold, such as are caused by the frigid temperature and the 
 sudden changes of the temperature, pass by without danger. 
 Whether this favorable condition is owing to a change in 
 the ozone contents of the air remains to be seen. But, even 
 without the climate, there will be many disturbing influences, 
 many privations, labors, moisture; perhaps, also, the depress- 
 
123 
 
 ing ortbct of (liHuiipoiritinetita, uiid Homotimos even iiisiifti- 
 cient ((pportuiiity for physical exercise. Polar expeditions 
 are not ho danujerouH or so frecjuently fatal as tliose in the 
 tropics, hut infinitely more arduous. The vital powers, 
 Ijowever, are lesscjicd year hy year by the obstructions to 
 the formation of blood through the unfav()ral)le conditions of 
 life, by the more or less unwholesome, because water tight, 
 clothes, which repress pers{>iration, by the lack of fresh ani- 
 mal and vegetable food, tiie want of light aiid warmth, kc. 
 This diminution of tlie vital forces will rec^uire the renewal 
 of the crew in not more than three vears. 
 
 )f 
 
 Is 
 
 !S, 
 
 HOW TO COMBAT SCURVY. 
 
 In Spite of all care, however, in equipping the expedi- 
 tion — and a small library should be included for mental 
 occupation — I do not doubt that it will be atHicted with 
 scurvy. Apart from sufferings produced by severe cold, 
 the Polar traveler is not exposed to any form of disease as 
 much as he is to scurvy, and its appearance has the most 
 dismal effect. When it spreads to any extent the useful- 
 ness of the expedition is ended. Parry took the moisture 
 in the bedding as the principal cause of scurvy, and while 
 on Melville Island he used sorrel against it with great ad- 
 vantage. He considered beer as the greatest anti-scorbutic 
 of all drinks. During T. Ross' second expedition it be- 
 came manifest that veo'etable food, more especially tlour, 
 was of no avail in battling against scurvy. The consump- 
 tion of fish, seal and train oil will, however, be found of 
 some benefit. Probably without reason it has been as- 
 sumed that chewing tobacco has an anti-scorbutic tendency 
 in seamen, while the insutficient supply of water, the ex- 
 cessive consumption of salt or pickled meats, the uncleanli- 
 ness, the long and severe cold and the sensitiveness to it 
 have been deemed favorable to its development. Except- 
 ing the tropics, the experience has been that scurvy appears 
 most generally in the winter and spring, and it is, doubt- 
 less, encouraged by poor living. Nevertheless, even abund- 
 ant animal and vegetable food form no perfect preventive 
 of scurvy. 
 
 In the absence of fresh vegetable food and of seals the 
 colony will be compelled to hunt land animals. Lime juice, 
 raw potatoes, sour fruit, (not mineral acid,) fresh vegetables, 
 wine, beer lees, exercise in the open air and cheerfulness, 
 important as they all are in preventing scurvy, do not, after 
 
124 
 
 '4 
 
 ■4!l 
 
 all, take the place of fresh meat in the Arctic regions. I 
 even remember cases of men who neglected all these pre- 
 cautions, and yet, by eating plenty of fresh meat, saved 
 themselves from scurvy. As to lime juice, it is an excellent 
 preventive, but when the disease has once broken out, is 
 of little curative value. Temperature is of great import- 
 ance. During wet and chilly weather the patient will grow 
 worse, but in dry weather he will improve. In scorbutic 
 aft'ections of the mouth it is advisable to take off the ex- 
 cresences with scissors and to pencil them over with muriatic 
 acid. As an additional preventive of scurvy I should re- 
 commend that the crew sleep in swinging hanmiocks instead 
 of berths, thus escaping the danger of moist bedding. The 
 patients on board the 2'egcthoff' recovered at once as soon 
 as they were transferred to a dry cabin, while the occu- 
 pants of damp cabins suffered more or less from scurvy all 
 the time. 
 
 ABOUT SLEDGES AND THEIR CONSTRUCTION. 
 
 A 8 it is the task of the colony to reach the Pole by means 
 of boats and sledges, I will give herewith my experiences in 
 regard to their use. 
 
 To accomplish the journey to the Pole with sledges alone 
 would require a coast along whose solid ice they could pro- 
 ceed, and which would terminate in a meridional direction. 
 As there is no mainland north of Grant Land, the boat and 
 not the sledge must be the leading factor of the American 
 enterprise. The sledges can only serve to bring boats and 
 provisions over the obstructive ice barriers. The success of 
 the expedition, however, depends entirely on the frequency 
 with which such passages n.ust be effected, and with which 
 the boats can be sailed or rowed. 
 
 As to the construction of the sledges I would suggest the 
 following: The runners should be eleven feet long, two and 
 three-quarter inches wide, one and a half feet high, and ca- 
 pable of supporting at least 2,000 pounds. The}' should be 
 made of ash, shod with steel and terminated at both ends in 
 soft curves. The ends should be hiiz;h so as to be visible above 
 deep snow. At the back there is a contrivance for steering and 
 pushing the sledge, and this cannot be constructed too solidly. 
 The cooking machine should be made of one piece, and no 
 soldering is permissible, as it should be capable of developing 
 the intensest heat and prevent its escape, and, of course, as 
 little alcohol as possible should be burned. For holding 
 
 ■ I 
 
125 
 
 the alcohol little kegs of twenty quarts will he best. As 
 the journey to the Pole can only be undertaken in the sum- 
 mer, no tents or sleeping sack (schlaisack) is necessary, but 
 it will be sufficient to cover the boats at night in tent fashion. 
 Double-barrelled Lefancheur guns for bullets and small 
 shot and copper cartridges should form the armament. Bis- 
 
 cuit should 
 tin boxes. 
 
 be transported in 
 
 uags, 
 
 the other supplies in 
 
 ABOUT BOATS AND THEIR EQUIPMENT. 
 
 The boats should be made neither of tin, metal, nor 
 leather, India rubber or water tight linen, but of wood. 
 They should be large enough to contain the whole crew, 
 with the sledges placed across them. The boats used by 
 the Norwegians in the Arctic sea (" Fangboote ") are well 
 available, except that their hold is too small. They acccom- 
 modate seven or eight men, but on aciiount of their sharp 
 keel they can only be drawn with difficulty over the deep 
 snow without sledges. It is, however, impracticable to draw 
 boats for any considerable distances over the ice without 
 sledges. To use runners for the transportation of the ])oats 
 is not advisable, because they are soon worn out. The boats 
 should be about about 20 feet long, 5J- feet wide, and 2| feet 
 high. The mast yard should be nuide of bamboo cane. 
 Seven men would, according to the experience of the 
 Tegetliojf expedition, require the following supplies, apart 
 from the results of probable hunting, for three months : 
 Pemican, 245 pounds; pea sausage, 400 pounds; boiled 
 beef, 400 pounds; tlour, 100 pounds; bread, 250 pounds; 
 chocolate, 90 pounds; salt, 15 pounds; meat entrail 10 
 pounds; tea, 4 pounds. To this should be added 240 
 pounds of alcohol, giving a total, without the boats and their 
 inventory, of 1,800 pounds. The personal equipment of the 
 travelers should consist of two woolen shirts, one woolen 
 pair of drawers, three pairs of woolen stockings, leather 
 water boots and caps, and a light fur coat to sleep in. 
 
 DOGS AND MEN. 
 
 Newfoundland dogs of extraordinary strength would be 
 very useful in passing over the ice cakes, but in the boats 
 they would be in the way. Although Esquimaux would be 
 quite available in the colony, their appetite on the way north 
 is enouijh to forbid their employment. As the expedition 
 to the IsTorth Pole has on'y a chance of success if the sledges 
 
126 
 
 are used as little as possible, and the boats find nearly 
 constant free passage, it is self-evident that their crews 
 should consist almost entirely of seamen of unusual physical 
 strength. 
 
 As to the number of the boats, at least two or three should 
 start on the journey to the Pole. From fourteen to twenty- 
 one men are capable of separating with poles the obstructing 
 ice barriers, (thus saving time in the passage,) to lift heavy 
 boats and place them upon the sledges, &c. A smaller nuni- 
 ber would be nearly helpless in the face of the innumerable 
 difficulties that are sure to present themselves. 
 
 In conclusion, a few remarks as to the chances of reaching' 
 the Pole from Grant Land. To accomplish in one summer 
 800 or 900 miles in an air line to the Pole and back in the 
 Arctic Sea in boats — sledges being only useful in passing 
 over obstructions — the expedition must find a pretty unin- 
 terrupted series of open water channels. If they find land 
 they can easily penetrate along the coast to its highest north- 
 ern point while the wind is favorable. Where there is no 
 land the advance will depend upon the most favorable con- 
 ditions of the ice, unless the expedition should be unfortu- 
 nate enough to share the experience of the Avstrian on its 
 retreat, which accomplished only two German miles in two 
 months. The most favorable moment for beginning the 
 journey could easily be signalized by an advance post in the 
 winter quarters of the Alert, but it will not be so easy to 
 seize it, because by the time the expedition had reached the 
 northeasterly corner of Grant Land it may have ah'eady 
 passed by. The ice being s<"'ll dense and intact in June, and 
 still reaching far south, it is useless to attempt to force a 
 passage where the breaking up of the pack into the floating 
 ice some four or six weeks later secures at least a partially 
 open water channel. Hence, the start should not be made 
 before July, and even under the most auspicious circum- 
 stances no open passage of any extent will be met in Lincoln 
 Sea before the end of that month. August aftbrds really 
 the best time for the journey, and at its end the retreat 
 should begin, otherwise the expedition may become a prey 
 of the new ice. For ships these channels will be impassable, 
 but boats may force themselves through. The boats, again, 
 lack the force of pressure and aftbrd a smaller visual ken for 
 a selection of the route. The only alternative is to pursue 
 that direction in which the water reflection of the sky points. 
 As to the distance which the expedition will accomplish per 
 
127 
 
 day, it may not be over a few hundred paces under unfavor- 
 able circumstaneea — i. e., with frequent passages over the ice 
 cakes — but under more favorable conditions and tolerably 
 open channels it may reach from twenty to thirty nautical 
 miles. In every respect the passage through Lincoln Sea 
 will closely resemble the retreat of the Austro-Hungarian 
 expedition from Francis Joseph's Land. It is to be ardently 
 hoped that it may be attended with equal good fortune. 
 
 Julius Payer. 
 
 a 
 
 [Views of Dr. .John Rae.] 
 
 The following letter is from Dr. John Rae, of London, the 
 Arctic explorer and discoverer of the fate of Sir John Frank- 
 lin, to the President of the American Geographical Society, 
 on the late English Arctic expedition : 
 
 " I am delighted to see by the papers that there is a proba- 
 bility of the United States Government prosecuting Arctic 
 research via Smith Sound, a line of route specially American, 
 and made famous by the explorations of Kane, Hayes, and 
 Hall, who, with their comparatively ill equipped and small 
 expeditions, did such noble work, the latter, indeed, having 
 taken his vessel, the Polaris, within a few miles of as far 
 north as the point reached by the English ship Alert in the 
 expedition of 1875-'76, which, notwithstanding all its bolster- 
 ing up by some able writers, was a failure, if we compare 
 the work done with the programme laid down for its 
 accomplishment. 
 
 Having had some experience in sledging on several very 
 long journeys on the Arctic coast, at an average daily rate 
 of from eighteen to twenty-four miles, and a great deal of 
 practice in snow shoe walking during a twenty years' resi- 
 dence in the Hudson Bay Company's territories, perhaps 
 you will permit me to offer a few remarks upon those points 
 where I think the English expedition made mistakes which, 
 although apparently slight individually, amount to a good 
 deal in the aggregate. 
 
 ERRORS OF DIET. 
 
 In the first place, the men employed on the Nares expedi- 
 tion were, with few exceptions, habituated to a daily ration 
 of grog at or near midday, this ration having been doubled 
 
128 
 
 for live months of winter, while the men had comparatively 
 little work, except merely walkii up and down for a few 
 hours and hauling ice for water, w liich was not sufficient to 
 keep their muscles in proper condition for the laborious 
 work of sledge hauling. They had a regular allowance of 
 lime juice on board ship, which was doubled in quantity 
 for some time before the sledge traveling began, when it was 
 discontinued altogether. Their diet was suddenly changed 
 from the ship allowance of preserved meat, corned beef, and 
 pork, with six ounces of preserved vegetables, [)ickles, and 
 fruit, and one ounce lime juice, with one gill rum, to a sledg- 
 ing ration of pemmican, cured bacon, two ounces preserved 
 potatoes, one-half gill rum, and no lime juice. 
 
 OBJECTIONABLE SLEDGES. 
 
 The sledges, with runners about eight inches high and 
 three inches broad, used by the recent expedition, were very 
 objectionable, as they sank deep in snow when not very hard 
 packed, and when descending from a hummock of ice the 
 fore part dives deep into the snow below, 2:iving immense 
 labor to pull and lift it out — labor which uie men say was 
 like tearing their arms otf. The best sledge is one resem- 
 bling the Indian toboggan, but much larger, so as to carry 
 800, 1,200, or 1,600 pounds, if required, with three runners, 
 rounded at the edges, not more than two and a-half or three 
 inches broad and about three-quarters of an inch deep. I con- 
 sider the be. . size is a sledge to hold about 800 pounds, or a 
 load for four men ; because if very difficult ice is to be got 
 over these are much more easily handled, and do not re- 
 quire to be unloaded so often, if at all. 
 
 CHOCOLATE AND COCOA BAD THINGS. 
 
 The English took chocolate or cocoa for breakfast, a very 
 bad thing, tea being much better, as it keeps away thirst. 
 They stopped about an hour and a-half in the middle of each 
 day's journey to make tea, a mistake which should be avoided, 
 as the men must get chilled very much after perspiring 
 freely. I and my men never stopped longer than three or 
 five minutes at a time, particularly if the weather was cold, 
 during the whole ten or more hours we were traveling, 
 only eating occasionally a mouthful of pemmican or bit of fat. 
 If, however, this plan, which I have always found best, does 
 not suit those who are accustomed to dine about midday, 
 use extract of tea, by which at least one-half the time of 
 
129 
 
 very 
 
 thirst. 
 
 t' each 
 
 )ided, 
 
 )iriLg 
 
 ^ee or 
 
 cold, 
 
 jling, 
 
 )f fat. 
 
 does 
 
 |dday, 
 
 jie of 
 
 stoppage may be saved, because the water need not be 
 boiled, l)nt merely brought to a sufficient heat to be pleasant 
 to drink. 
 
 The English sledgemen used for bedding not only a heavy 
 coverlid but a duffle bag for each man, and they also put on 
 a thick duffle "jamper" l)efore going to bed; thus the arms 
 were separated from the body by two folds of a thick non- 
 conductor, and each man was kept apart from his neighbor 
 by four folds of this material, so that heat could not be com- 
 municated from one to the other. In my own case we had 
 one covering for all five, with a strip of thin hairy deer skin 
 between us and the snow on which we lay. We took off 
 our coats, placing them either over or under ns, according 
 to taste, then lay as close as we could comfortably pack, I 
 always being one of the outsiders, the cook for the time 
 being the other. If one of the "outsiders" felt a little cold 
 the whole party put "about ship," as a sailor would say — 
 that is, turned over on the other side — and thus the part of 
 the body that was previously cold got the warm berth. I may 
 say that I never w^as uncomfortably cold but once, and that 
 was when the snow house was made too small and we had to 
 shove our legs outside. Our whole bedding for five persons 
 weighed between twenty-four and twenty-five pounds, or 
 less than five pounds each. 
 
 SNOW HUTS THE BEST SHELTER. 
 
 Tents were used on the recent expedition, and are the 
 worst kind of shelter for Arctic service, being not only very 
 cold, but having this disadvantage, that nearly all the con- 
 densed breath and vapor from the hot food adheres to them, 
 not only making the tent heavy and r ipleasant to handle, 
 but the least shake makes this condensed vapor fall down 
 upon the bedding, into which, if great care is not used, it 
 gets impacted and aids materially in making it of that " sheet 
 iron " consistence spoken of by Captain Markham at the 
 meeting of our Geographical Society. Snow huts are the 
 best shelter in any temperature from 10° below the freezing 
 point to 70° degrees below zero; and if these catinot be 
 built, either from men not knowing how to do so, or be- 
 cause the snow is not sufficiently packed, snow walls should 
 be run up, which is not hard work if properl}' set about. 
 These walls may be of any thickness most convenient, and 
 should slope inwards as much as possible — should be five or 
 six feet high — that is, counting the depth of space hollowed 
 
 9 
 
130 
 
 out by removal of snow for the walls. A piece of sheeting 
 has generally been used as a roof. I should prefer a double 
 fold of thin, but strong, linen, having between the folds a 
 thin layer of birds' down, which would make this kind of 
 shelter nearly as warm as a true snow hut, which I and my 
 men never failed in building. 
 
 SNOW SHOES. 
 
 Snow shoes should also be taken on every Arctic expedi- 
 tion, and would have been of great use in the recent one, 
 although the officers are not willing to allow as much; at 
 least Sir George Nares has said that heavily loaded sledges 
 cannot be hauled by men with snow shoes on. In fact, the 
 gallant knight knows nothing about it, probably never having 
 in his life seen a sledge so hauled, yet he gives his opinion 
 with as much confidence as if he had great experience. The 
 snow shoe best adapted for Arctic work should be short, and 
 broad in proportion. There should be different sizes to suit 
 the different weights of men. 
 
 Should it be requisite to build boats to be hauled over the 
 ice they should be made much broader, in proportion to 
 their length, than those I have seen. 
 
 THE SLEDGE JOURNEY. 
 
 As regards the sledge journej- poleward, I can only say 
 that it is no wonder little progress was made with the un- 
 nece8sa,fy heavy loads* that were dragged by men sulfering 
 from scurvy, who, in their weakened state, must have found 
 great difficulty in surmounting obstacles which to healthy 
 and experienced men would have been easy. 
 
 DESTINATION OF THE ICEBERGS. 
 
 There seems at least one weak point in Sir George Nares' 
 statements, to the eftect that there is no getting a ship nearer 
 the Pole vixi Smith Sound than the point reached by the 
 Alert. As early as the 31st of July, 1876, a strong south- 
 west wind drove the ice pack out to sea to the northeast, and 
 enabled the Alert to round Cape Rawson and run ten miles 
 southward through a fairly open channel until stopped b}' a 
 heavy floe (floeberg) one and a half miles in diameter, which 
 moved off next day northward " with the tide, at the rate of 
 one and a half miles an hour." (See Nature, November 9, 
 
 *After the auxiliary sledge returned the loads were more that 400 pounds 
 per man. 
 
131 
 
 Nares' 
 nearer 
 by the 
 south- 
 list, and 
 In miles 
 3d by a 
 which 
 rate of 
 [nber 9, 
 
 pounds 
 
 1876, folio 43.) Tlio question to be asked is, Where did all 
 this ten or twelve miles of ice and great floeberg go to? As 
 they went northward the immense fields of ice, 100 feet or 
 more thick, to the north must also have been moving in that 
 direction to make room, otherwise we cannot account for so 
 large a space of open water appearing so suddenly. Prol)iil)ly 
 a day or two of southerly wind might, a few weeks later, have 
 driven the immense piles of paleocrystic ice many miles away, 
 and left a clear passage to the north, even for ships. At Re- 
 pulse Bay, latitude 66° 32' north, in 1847, the ice did not clear 
 away sufficiently to allow my boats to get along shore until 
 the 12th of August, It is also probable that the great ridges 
 of ice that looked so formidable and were so unsurmountable 
 to scurvy stricken men, with their heavily laden sledges, did 
 not extend very far northward beyond the latitude of 83° 
 20' 26" north reached, or only twenty-five north of the lard 
 at Cape Hecla. 
 
 NO GROG. 
 
 I should recommend that no grog be given as an allow- 
 ance, either on board ship or on the sledging; that men 
 should be chosen who had not been accustomed to a regular 
 ration daily of grog; that a few men should be taken as 
 hunters, &c., who had been used to snow shoe walking, 
 sledge hauling, setting nets under the ice, &c. ; and such 
 men might be got, I think, at Winnepeg among the English 
 half-breeds there, who are as fine fellows as a person could 
 wish for such work as I have named, but probably equally 
 good men may be found in the States among the Western 
 trappers. 
 
 EXERCISES FOR THE MEN. 
 
 The men should, during winter, whenever practicable, be 
 exercised in show shoe walking, snow hut and snow shelter 
 building; if a lake is near, in setting nets under the ice, or, 
 perhaps, in the sea, if there are signs of fish; also in sledge 
 hauling, to a sufficient extent to accustom the leg muscles 
 to this particular kind of work. For some time before start- 
 ing on the sledging journeys the men should, in some degree, 
 be made accustomed to the sledging diet, so as to discover if 
 it agreed with them, although they could not be expected 
 to eat it so readily on board ship as when traveling. 
 
 THE CLOTHING. 
 
 The clothes used by the English expedition were much 
 
182 
 
 « . ','■ 
 
 
 too licavy nnd woolly outside, not keeping out the wind suffi- 
 ciently. The best coat, in my opinion, is one made of close 
 but not heavy beaverteen, or of thin leather, lined with stout 
 ilanncl or bath coating, with as much woolen clothing under- 
 neath as a man may by winter experience find requisite for 
 comfort. Moccasins made of good moos^e skins I consider 
 best for spring journeys, with cross pieces sewn on to prevent 
 slip]iing. In early winter something waterproof is best. 
 Esquimaux boots are not bad. 
 
 T could add a good deal more, but think I have said enough 
 for the present. If there happen to be even only one or two of 
 the suggestions I have named thought worthy of adoption, 
 I shall feel myself amply repaid for troubling you with this 
 long and hurriedly written letter, which I send off in its 
 unfinished state so as to catch to-day's mail. 
 Believe me, truly yours, 
 
 John Rae, 
 Correspondmg Member of the 
 
 Geographical Society, New York. 
 President of the Geographical Society, 
 
 New York:' 
 
 [From Captain .J. Wall Wilson, of Dr. Kane's Second Griiinell Expedition.] 
 
 Captain H. W. Howgate, Washington^ D. C. : 
 
 My Dear Sir: I have been much impressed with your 
 plan for reaching the North Pole, and think it is the only 
 feasible method yet proposed ; with vessels I believe it im- 
 possible. Of course, light boats must be taken with tbe 
 traveling parties, and I would suggest that they be fitted 
 with something like ruimers for sliding over the ice, and 
 the same will answer as leeboards when under sail. I think 
 rubber or metallic boats will not answer as well as light 
 cedar ones. Rubber is totally unfit, unless very highly vul- 
 canized. Your greatest difficulty will be found in the rough- 
 ness of the ice (hummock ice), over which you will have to 
 travel, and, therefore, your boats must be of the lightest ma- 
 terial for transportation. 
 
 I think you will find that tents made of felt instead of 
 canvas much the best ; they are lighter, warmer and the 
 dampness not so likely to penetrate. While making long 
 marches in the north you will find it greatly to your advant- 
 age to give your men frequent rests, if only for fifteen or 
 
 mm 
 
133 
 
 York. 
 
 3Rt ma- 
 
 twenty minutea at a time. When men become weary they 
 do not rcHist the cohl as well. 
 
 My opinion is, that a^ood, strong tea is much better thaa 
 cofl'ee for men traveling m a very cold climate; liquor should 
 only be used medicinally when exposed to the open air, and 
 then only under the direction of an officer. Men should 
 accustom themselves to eating their meat raw while on 
 sledge parties, as they require all the nutriment and heat it 
 possesses. 
 
 I certainly think snow huts the best for sleeping purposes 
 when sufficient snow can be found, but it is a fact that the 
 farther we go north the less snow we find, and you may, 
 therefore, seldom find the necessary (juantity near at hand. 
 
 I venture to call your attention to an important feature 
 in the construction of your winter quarters. They should 
 be provided with an outer or ante-room, the temperature of 
 which should never be more tlian forty degrees, for the re- 
 ception of officers and men on their return from sledge 
 parties, and where they should remain at least twenty-four 
 hours before entering the warmer atmosphere of the living 
 apartment. This room would gradually accustom them to 
 the great change of temperature from the outside to that 
 within. In all the northern expeditions nien have suffered 
 much from this sudden change, and not unfrequently death 
 has ensued. 
 
 Ventilation of the winter quarters is a most important 
 matter. I would advise you to take a supply of ventilating 
 bricks for two or three chimneys. They are made of sand 
 and cement, and cost but little, and give perfect ventilation, 
 as they can be chased or opened, as desired, without admit- 
 ting the cold air, ***** 
 
 In the selection of men, I think you will iind sparp men, 
 or men not weighing over one hundred and sixty pounds, 
 with no superUuous liesh, will stand the cold and exposure 
 much the best. That was our experience, and I think it 
 has been the experience of other expeditions. 
 
 I mention these various points that bear upon the health 
 of the men because I feel how important it is that they 
 should be in good condition for spring travel, and how much 
 success depends upon it. * * * If I can be of any use 
 to you in any way, I shall be pleased to serve you, and I beg 
 you will not hesitate to call upon me. Wishing you every 
 success, and with feelings of the deepest interest in your un- 
 dertaking, I remain, very truly, yours, 
 
 J. Wall Wilson. 
 
 :^»IBRSKnf»^^ 
 
134 
 
 LETTKR OF M. W. DE FONVIELLE, TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CENTRAL 
 COMMITTEE OF THE UEOGRAl'HICAL SOCIETY OF FRANCE. 
 
 ((Translated by Miss Ida Howgate, Washinglon, D. C, for tlie Western Review.) 
 
 (tIentlemen : I liuve tlie honor of [H'esentine to you three 
 pani[»hlet8, in the name of Captain Howgate, assiBtant to 
 the Higiuil oiiicei at the Washington Signal Office; tl»e first 
 contains the phm for the establishment of the Polar colony 
 which this officer intends to establish on tlie l)(>rders of 
 Lady Franklin's Strait, the favorable report which was 
 made on his proj)08ition the 8th of January, 1877, to the 
 United States Congress by Mr. Willis, in the name of the 
 Committee of Naval Affiiirs ; and several letters of ap- 
 proval, particularlv those of Mr. Dal}', President of the 
 Geographical Society of New York, and of Prof. Elias 
 Loomis, the celebrated meteorologist of Yale College. 
 
 The second, entitled " Correspondence vm\ action of the 
 scientific and commercial associations in reference to the 
 establishment of a Polar colony," cop^prises the assigned 
 approval of several celebrated and competent persons, 
 among whom it is sufficient to mention Mr. John Kae, and 
 Mr. Julius Payer, whose names are intimately connected 
 with the polar regions, where they have acquired an immor- 
 tal reputation, and Prof. Joseph Henry, the time honored 
 director of the Smithsonian Institution. 
 
 The third gives an account of the preliminary expedition, 
 of which the command has been intrusted to Captain Tyson, 
 and all the details which have come to Europe at difterent 
 times and which needed to be reunited in the same publica- 
 tion. Captain Howgate has added to it a copy of the in- 
 structions given to Mr. Sherman, meteorologist of the expe- 
 dition, and to Mr. Ivumlien, naturalist, especially commis- 
 sioned with the study of the animals, plants and geology, as 
 well of the countries adjacent to the seat of the Polar colony, 
 as of those which will become ports or winter harbors. 
 
 Captain Howgate informs me in his last letter that he is 
 occupied in preparing a new pamphlet, in which he will en- 
 large and complete the plans already stated several times. 
 He will naturally make several important modifications 
 for the purpose of taking into consideration some sugges- 
 tions which have been addressed to him, and some studies 
 to which he has devoted himself for more than a year. It 
 is these plans, amended and improved, which he will sub- 
 mit to the United States Congress in its present session — 
 
135 
 
 Elias 
 
 as 
 
 and this fornuility is perhaps ooinplied witli, even at this 
 hour. I hog the society, then, not to consider the docu- 
 ments which are submitted to it as presenting the decisive 
 expression of Captain Ilowgate's plana. 
 
 But, at the same time, I will take the liberty of requesting 
 it not to await the arrival of documents which will not 
 cliangt' the essential basis of the expedition, and to express 
 its opinion upon the information that I have at my disposal 
 and which my correspondence with Captain Ilowgate will 
 permit me, if it is necessary, to complete, at least in ditfer- 
 ent [larts. 
 
 I cannot help hoping that the favorable opinion expressed 
 by a Society whose influence increases every df,y, which 
 possesses so many scientific illustrations of all descriptions, 
 and which has always shown sucii solicitude for tlie solution 
 of polar questions, will exercise a favorable influence on the 
 decisions of the United States Congress. It would be very 
 consoling to think that if the state of our finances does not 
 yet permit us to get up a French expedition, the country of 
 Jules de Blossville, of Francois Belot and of Gustave Lam- 
 bert will not remain alien to the great attempt which is- 
 foing to be accomplished and whose execution has already 
 egun. In fact, the world knows that Captain Tyson winters 
 at this moment on the banks of the Cuml)erland (lulf, at a 
 point whose exact latitude and longitude will be made known 
 at Washington by the first dispatches received on the open- 
 ing of the ice. It is foreseen that a decision of the Geo- 
 graphical Society would facilitate the vote of Congress. 
 Permit me to respectfully urge it in order that the news 
 may arrive in time to be useful on the other side of the 
 Atlantic. 
 
 I will add that the approbation given to Captain How- 
 gate's plan will not prejudice in any way the plan of the 
 polar international expedition proposed by Count Wilczek 
 and Mr. Charles Weyprecht and which would have been, as 
 you know, discussed by the International Meteorological 
 Congress at Rome in September, 1877, if [jolitical events 
 hail not obliged the convocation to adjourn till the next 
 year. 
 
 The colony at Lady Fraiddin's Bay must be considered as 
 a beginning of the execution of this universal plan and con- 
 sequently I am not afraid to say that your adherence to it 
 is obtained. If the American station is found to be placed 
 in a more elevated latitude than the Count Wilczek and Mr. 
 
136 
 
 ild 
 
 "Weypreclit wish, it Ih only ])eeauHt' the exjiodition of Cap- 
 tain Nares havl the good fortune to discover, before sailing 
 for England, a rich coal mine, the ititelligent working of 
 which will enable the rigors of the neverest climate t(j be 
 endured. These natural treasures belonging to the first 
 occupant, we cannot complain that the compatriots of Cap- 
 tain Hall insist tluit the Stars and Stripes shall float on the 
 shores where we can, so to sp^ak, see the tomb of the great 
 explorer. 
 
 The magnetic observations will be carried on in the Polar 
 colony with the same regularity ami in the same manner as 
 in the large observatories of America or of England. Per- 
 haps use will be made of recording instruments. 
 
 The means which will be placerl at his disfKisal allowing 
 him to do it. Captain Ilowgate will not neglect a precaution 
 so essential for seizing the precise moment of the disturb- 
 ances and determining with exactitude the relation connect- 
 ing the extraordinary movements of the magnetic needle 
 with the apparitions or jiaroxysms of the aurora borealis, 
 I have not been able to discover, in the long enumeration 
 of [trecautions recommended by Messrs. Payer imd Wey- 
 preclit, any precautions that Captain Howgate has omitted 
 in his programme. 
 
 The future station of the colony at Lady Franklin's Bay 
 will therefore furnish observations comparable with those 
 that might be collected later in other analogous establish- 
 ments as to the questions of magnetism, electricity, rain, 
 wind, etc. The only serious difference will consist in the 
 hour of the individual observations, for the chronometers of 
 the colony will be regulated by Washington time, as 
 Captain Howgate attaches a special importance to the 
 readings which correspond to the passage of the sun in the 
 meridian of Washington, and it is know-n that this mo- 
 ment has been chosen for the universal observsitions estab- 
 lished by American astronomers. But this particular can- 
 not create any serious difficulty, for it may be inferred that 
 Messrs. Payer and Weypreclit will introduce this important 
 observation in the fine programme which they have made 
 out with such remarkable care and ability. 
 
 An important change has been stated by Captain How- 
 gate in the programme of the preliminary expedition. In- 
 stead of being confined to establishing weathervanes, whose 
 course is always uncertain, and which, moreover, only indi- 
 cate the moveix^ent ot the strata near the surface of the 
 
187 
 
 IIow- 
 II. In- 
 
 wliose 
 y indi- 
 
 earth, Ciiptiiin Ilowgute liiw given the order to luuiich in the 
 air small guide balloons wIiobb course will be observed with 
 cure and recorded as regularly as the barometer or ther- 
 mometer measures. 
 
 It is to be regretted that no':withHtandiiig all the eftorts 
 which have been made in F'rance to extend this method, 
 and the creation of a service of aerial communications by 
 the War Department, it has not been adopted by one of our 
 observatories, where the direction of winds continue to be 
 studied in the most imperfect manner — as if air balloons 
 had not been invented. 
 
 I will take the liberty to remark on this point, that small 
 guide balloons, being constructed scientifically, can be 
 carried by the winds to immense distances. The history of 
 balloons furnishes several examples of it, and that of the 
 siege of Paris would suffice to establish victoriously that 
 free air balloons launched from the Cumberland coast or 
 from the Polar colony would have strong chances of reach- 
 ing even civilized countries, where a few of them could be 
 collected. It is not necessary to enter into long explana- 
 tions to show that this numner of proceeding may be con- 
 sidered as very superior to the ancient practice of intrusting 
 closed bottles to the waves of the ocean. Yet it is unneces- 
 sary to suppose that in the actual state of aerostatic knowl- 
 edges it would be possible to start from the Polar colony air 
 balloo!i > equipped with the view of reaching the Polar re- 
 gions. The plan proposed by a captain in the English Navy 
 has no connection with the projects of Captain Ilowgate. 
 
 While proclaiming the necessity of finding some means 
 of utilizing atmospheric communication on the borders of 
 the eternally frozen sea, where the course towards the Pole 
 will always be so uncertain and slow, the cautious American 
 officer has understood well that it is necessary to proceed in 
 a methodical and sure numner in a question so new. He 
 has taken great care not to full into the traps of those quacks 
 who prepare inevitable shipwrecks in presenting to the pub- 
 lic or even to the Government projects of which we hear so 
 often and which bear the imprint of rashness und ignorunce. 
 
 The founder of the Polur colony would have wished to 
 organize some free and captive balloon ascents on the border 
 of the Polar Sea, in order to profit by favorable aerial currents 
 to advance toward the north and return towards the south, 
 much the same as the French aeronauts have succeeded in 
 doing on the borders of the Mediterranean or of the ocean. 
 
m 
 
 188 
 
 But after having examined the means which the expedi- 
 tion had at its disposal, it has heon found that a gasometer 
 of only eight feet in height 5»nd eight feet in diameter, could 
 be constructed in the Polar colony, which would be unablb, 
 consequently, to render an^' service in the inflation o.' air 
 balloons of from two to tlirce thousand metres cubic, the 
 smallest that can be adopted for so ditKcult a service. What- 
 ever may be the means used and the process employed for 
 preparing pure carbonated hydrogen gas, a magazine of gas 
 of so feeble a capacity wotdd be no help even in our climates. 
 Tliey would not be satisfactory even for traveling ascensions. 
 
 What sincere aeronaut would risk preparing his gas in pro- 
 portion as it should hv introduced into the balloon, unless 
 lie resigned himself to prepare it by the action of acid on 
 iron in the apparatus for continuous production by Mr. 
 Henry Giffard. But if it were done in this manner, it 
 would be necessary to carry to the Polar regions a full cargo 
 of sulphuric acid and iron. 
 
 If we hesitated at this extreme expedient, use could not 
 be made of the air balloon without having resolved another 
 problem not less difhcult. 
 
 It would be necessary to keep the balloon inflated until 
 the moment when the atmospheric circumstances would 
 permit of trying the ascension with reasonable chances of 
 returning towards the south after having been carried more 
 or less towards the north. During probably a very long 
 time it would remain exposed to winds of extreme violence. 
 
 But the necessity of preserving a balloon in such circum- 
 stances is precisely the greatest of all difficulties which will 
 have to be surmounted in order to use air balloons in the 
 Polar regions, as 't is only too easy to understand. 
 
 For the air balloon which coidd keep u[) in the air wh > ' 
 envelope would have a stability to resist the most violei ., 
 wind, could float during the entire summer above the Polar 
 regions, touch the earth in a multitude of difierent points, 
 and terminate its voyage near a place of safety. Such a 
 programme would cease to be beyond human power, espe- 
 cially if these countries, where modern civilization struggles 
 with such gigantic difficulties, were marked out by numerous 
 scientific colonies which the spirit of progress will not delay 
 to create there. 
 
 I believe, then, it is necessary to encourc^tge and assist Cap- 
 tain Ifowgate in all the researches which have for their object 
 the study of the distribution of aerial currents at the North 
 
139 
 
 ; expedi- 
 isometer 
 er, could 
 ? unablt, 
 :)Ti o." air 
 ubic, the 
 . What- 
 loyed for 
 rje of gas 
 climates, 
 icensions. 
 ;a8 in pro- 
 )n, unless 
 if acid on 
 1 by Mr. 
 lanner, it 
 full cargo 
 
 could not 
 d another 
 
 ated until 
 jes would 
 hauces of 
 ried more 
 very long 
 violence, 
 h circura- 
 wh\ch will 
 ons in the 
 
 air wh'i ' 
 ost violet .. 
 
 the Polar 
 Mit points, 
 Such a 
 wer, espe- 
 
 struggles 
 numerous 
 
 not delay 
 
 assist Cap- 
 heir object 
 the North 
 
 Pole, not only with the view of enlarging our meteorological 
 knowledge, but also with the intention of using them in 
 future aeronautic expeditions. 
 
 Indeed, the discovery of circumstances exceptionably 
 favorable, such as the existence of regular land and sea 
 breezes would be, might lead to accumulating even in the 
 colony at Lady Franklin's Bay some means of inflation 
 which would not have been thought of at the beginning of 
 80 important an enterprise. 
 
 While stating with regret that for the moment we cannot 
 do more, it seems to me that we ought to congratulate Captain 
 Howgate for having introduced air balloons, even under the 
 form of simple exjjloring l)alloons, in a region where, sooner 
 or later, they will permit us to approach the solution of the 
 most redoubtable mysteries. 
 
 I hope, for my part, that by the help of information col- 
 lected by Captain llowgate, we shall be able at the close of 
 the Ut.iversal Ex{)08iti()n to propose to the Government the 
 adoption of a reasonable plan of aerostatic operations, taking 
 as a basis either the Polar colony of Captain Howgate or 
 those whose foundation will have been decided, according 
 to all prolmbility, at this date. 
 
 In response to this clo(|uent appeal of M. de Fonvielle, 
 the Geographical Society addressed the following commu- 
 nication to Captain Howgate, as evidence of its interest in 
 the subject of Arctij exploration; 
 
 CUOGRAPHTCAL SOCIETY OF FllANCE, 
 
 No. 3 Christine St., Paris, Jamnirij 31, 1878. 
 
 Captain H. W. Howgate, U. S. Army, 
 
 Washington, D. C. : 
 
 The Geographical Society of Paris watches with the liveli- 
 est interest the ettbrts which have been made in the United 
 States to organize a scieiititic colony in the Polar regions 
 of the north, and it will commend every re8t)lution of Con- 
 gress favoral>le to the project in which you have taken the 
 initiative, and which, thanks to the aid you have already 
 procured from intelligent compatriots, is already in process 
 of execution. 
 
 The Society thiid<H that your idea of establishing a Polar 
 colony cannot fail to produce results eminently useful to 
 
 mitm 
 
140 
 
 science, and that, while permitting the indicated observations 
 to be made, it will hasten the geographical conquest of the 
 Polar regions. 
 
 The Societ}' follows with its most sympathizing wishes 
 Captain Tyson, in the preliminary expedition with which 
 you have charged him, and its good wishes will likewise be 
 yours the day when at the head of the expedition you have 
 profited from the results obtained by the commander of the 
 Florence and his brave fellow voyagers. 
 
 In thanking you for the active part you have taken in the 
 preparation of this Polar campaign, we pray you, sir, to be 
 pleased to receive the expression of our most distinguished 
 consideration. 
 
 C. DE QUATREFAGES, 
 
 President of the Central Commission^ 
 
 Member of Institute. 
 
 DE LA RONCIERE-LE-NOURY, 
 
 President of the Societi/, 
 
 Vice- Admiral and Senator, 
 C. Mannoir, 
 
 General Secretary. 
 
 IHs, 
 
 .nnm 
 
rvations 
 st of the 
 
 r wishes 
 h which 
 ewise be 
 ^ou have 
 3r of the 
 
 en in the 
 sir, to be 
 nu'uiahed 
 
 man, 
 
 ■ Institute. 
 
 JRY, 
 
 ,d Senator, 
 
 CONCLUDING REMARKS. 
 
 In the foregoing pages an attempt has been made to pre- 
 sent a succinct account of the plan of Arctic exploration 
 which I have had the honor to propose, of the efforts made 
 to secure the facilities for carrying it into execution, and of 
 the encouragement thus far received from Congress and the 
 public, while the papers and correspondence in the appendix 
 which follows show how extended and how earnest is the 
 interest taken in the project by men of science, scientific 
 associations and the leading commercial bodies of the country. 
 
 The enterprise is one of national importance and should 
 be conducted in a manner suited to the dignity of a great 
 nation. 
 
 The object of any personal enterprise is naturally limited 
 to an attempt to discover the geographical Pole, while the 
 national on^, provided for in the bill before Congress, has 
 for its objects, in addition to this geographical work, the dis- 
 covery of natural laws affecting the interests of commerce 
 and navigation, and those of general science in every depart- 
 ment, the clue to which can only be found by patient observa- 
 tion and study within the Polar area. 
 
 Our navy has vessels and nien who can well be spared 
 from present duties to carry out the provisions of the bill, 
 and volunteers for the enterprise are numerous among the 
 younger officers, who are eager for an opportunity of acquir- 
 ing distinction. It would seem impolitic for our Govern- 
 ment to deprive them of such an op[)ortunity, when it is 
 offered at so trifling a cost. 
 
 The entire cost of the proposed expedition, if equally 
 divided among the inhabitants of the United States, would 
 amount to one-eighth (J) of a cent for each individual, and as 
 this sum is to cover the expenses for three years, the annual 
 cost to each inhabitant would be the insignihcant sum of one- 
 twenty-fourth (^) of a cent. It is difficult to imagine that 
 any serious objection would be made by any individual to 
 the expenditure of this sum annually for the advancement 
 of science, and for the honor of our country. 
 
 The measure has been before Congress and the country 
 nearly two years, and has attracted unusual attention and 
 
142 
 
 criticism. The generally favorable nature of this criticism 
 is an evidence of the poiiular faith in the practicability of 
 the plan now proposed. ^ 
 
 The American Geographical Society, the Smithsonian In- 
 stitution, the National Aeademy of Science, the members 
 of former Arctic expeditions, and many gentlemen of high 
 distinction in the walks of science have given it their cordial 
 support, while several of the most important cities through- 
 out the country have directed their liepresentatives in Con- 
 gress to advocate the passage of the pending bill. 
 
 If America would not be outdone by other nations it be- 
 hooves her to move at once. The English press report 
 Swedish and Dutch expeditions as already organizing. 
 The English themselves, although they have knighted Cap- 
 tain Nares and promoted every commanding officer of that 
 expedition, are by no means satisfied with their failure or 
 partial success, and the government is being urged to send 
 out again the vessels just returned. France is about to 
 organize a new Arctic expedition, and already there comes 
 across tlie ocean a suggestion from both France and Holland 
 that by mutual agreement a series of synchronous observa- 
 tions should be taken by each expedition at all points of 
 their courses for future comparison and for the advancement 
 of science throughout the world. The colony on Lady 
 Franklin Bay would form a rallying point and center for 
 the different expeditions of various nations, and it would be 
 the objective point of those trying to reach the Pole by way 
 of Behring's Strait and Nova Zembla, of which there are 
 several, while for those going by way of Smith's Sound it 
 would form the natural base of operations. By the adop- 
 tion of this plan, therefore, the United States would hold 
 the key to the position, a function as glorious as it would 
 be difficult, and one worthy alike of our national greatness 
 and our enterprise as a people. Having once put our hands 
 to the plow, we should not now turn back. Having done 
 so nobly in the past, we cannot afford to idly relinquish all 
 part in the future. Such a course would neither be con- 
 sistent with our reputation for energy nor creditable to our 
 Government. 
 
 It must he borne in mind that out of four purely Ameri- 
 can expeditions, three were mainly equipped by private 
 enterprise, while the fourth, that of Captain Hall, which 
 the IJnited States equipped at the cost of little more than 
 $50,000, achieved, in fact, more than had hitherto been done 
 
148 
 
 riticism 
 bility of 
 
 nian In- 
 lembers 
 of high 
 [• cordial 
 ;hrough- 
 iu Con- 
 
 lus it be- 
 3 report 
 i;anizing. 
 ted Oap- 
 r of that 
 ailure or 
 1 to send 
 about to 
 re comes 
 
 Holland 
 observa- 
 points of 
 mcement 
 on Lady 
 enter for 
 would be 
 e by way 
 there are 
 
 Sound it 
 the adop- 
 uld hold 
 
 it would 
 greatness 
 )ur hands 
 'ing done 
 Kjuish all 
 be con- 
 )le to our 
 
 by the same or an}- other route, and little less than England 
 accomplished later at a cost of )§1,000,000. 
 
 We need entertain no doubts of the result. Through the 
 dim vista of vanished centuries the oar of colonizing Greek, 
 the sword of conquering Roman have descended to the 
 Anglo-Saxon as his peculiar appanage and possession, while 
 the heart of Asia, the deserts of Africa and the mighty 
 canons of the West bear equal testimony with the ice bound 
 seas that neither peaceful implement nor warlike weapon 
 has been found too heavy for the brawny hand of the young- 
 est scion of the English speaking race. 
 
 We ought not to leave unfinished the noble work which 
 has been so gallantly begun. The eyes of our own peo- 
 ple, with those of the whole civilized world abroad, have 
 watched the outgoing of the Floreitct with her hardy 
 crew, and we should be false, indeed, alike to our past his- 
 tory and our future fame, if we should pause in the work 
 of Arctic discovery so auspiciously begun. Private means 
 and private enterprise are good and noble things in them- 
 selves, and they have placed in the Nation's hands, for her 
 fostering care and rearing, this ward of science, with the 
 hope that the work so fairly commenced will be pushed to 
 an early and glorious issue. This is a national cause and 
 undertaking ; one peculiarly American, whose goal lies 
 where the lonely tomb of the heroic Hall, with its kindly 
 English memorial, stands, a solitary sentinel upon the road 
 to glory. Other nations are taking the field; foreign expedi- 
 tions are in preparation, and shall we content ourselves with 
 taking a preliminary step and then abandoning the race ? 
 With the members of the Senate and of the House, rests the 
 decision of this question. The bill which is now before them 
 provides for following up this great enterprise at an insig- 
 nificant cost compared with the vast harvest to be reaped, 
 not only in the fields of science, but in the interests of navi- 
 gation, commerce, and national glory.. 
 
 y Ameri- 
 y private 
 ill, which 
 lore than 
 >een done